Day mothers
Day mothers
"We're looking for a day mum for our little girl. Recently I was strongly recommended to someone who is not approved. I'm going to meet her. What does she risk if she is reported?"
Tania, Geneva
Under the Ordinance of the Federal Council regulating the placement of children for maintenance purposes and with a view to adoption (OPEE), the placement of children outside the family home is subject to authorisation and supervision. Persons who publicly offer to take in children under the age of 12 on a regular basis in their homes, on a daily basis and in return for payment, must notify the authorities. Authorisation may only be granted if the personal qualities, educational abilities and state of health of the foster parents and other persons living in their household, as well as the housing conditions, offer every guarantee that the child placed will receive adequate care, education and training and that the welfare of the other children living in the household will be safeguarded. In addition, the authority will appoint a person to visit the day parents' home periodically.
In the canton of Geneva, the Office de la Jeunesse is the authority responsible for issuing permits and exercising supervision. In practical terms, its role also involves providing help and advice to day-care parents. To obtain a permit, applicants are first invited to an information session, then they complete an application form, which is followed by two meetings with the day parents, the second of which takes place at their home. By law, the Office can take measures, impose fines and, if necessary, prohibit the reception of minors for a fixed or indefinite period. In the event of a repeat offence, the offender risks arrest or a fine for insubordination to a decision of the authorities as defined in article 292 of the Penal Code.
It should be pointed out that the rules applicable in the canton of Vaud are similar; moreover, it should be remembered that people who, by carrying out such an activity, contravene the law on undeclared work and/or the federal law on foreign nationals currently in force risk severe penalties.
