© Stadt Bocholt
There was great interest in the lecture by Dr phil. Torsten Ziebertz as part of the current symposium for foster and adoptive parents.

16. September 2025Children and youth

Symposium for foster and adoptive parents in Bocholt: Focus on resilience

Symposium at Lernwerk Bocholt sheds light on how foster children can develop inner strength

This year's symposium for foster and adoptive parents took place last Saturday at Lernwerk Bocholt under the guiding theme "Resilience - the inner strength to thrive". The conference was organised by the Youth and Family Department of the City of Bocholt in cooperation with the Social Service of Catholic Women (SKF) Bocholt e.V.

For more than 16 years, the youth welfare offices in the Borken district have been working with the SKF to bring foster families and foster care professionals together. The aim is to promote professional dialogue, facilitate personal encounters and strengthen networking between those involved.

Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff opened the event by welcoming the participants and emphasising the special importance of foster and adoptive families. He emphasised the valuable role that families and professionals play for children and young people who are dependent on stable relationships.

The keynote speaker was Dr phil. Torsten Ziebertz, educational scientist, systemic family therapist and trauma pedagogue, led through the day. With more than 20 years of experience in working with foster families and professionals, he provided practical ideas for promoting resilience in foster children and their carers. The focus was on questions such as: How do children develop inner strength despite difficult life circumstances? What protective and risk factors play a role in this? And what significance does resilience have specifically in the context of foster families? In addition to scientific findings, the participants were given concrete ideas for action in everyday life.

The symposium once again made an important contribution to the qualification and support of foster and adoptive families in the Borken district. The aim remains to strengthen families in a targeted manner and to continuously develop the framework conditions for successful fostering relationships.

Contact for all matters relating to foster families in Bocholt:
City of Bocholt - Youth and Family Department, Foster Children's Service
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße 77, 46395 Bocholt, Tel. 02871 953-2421

Sozialdienst Katholischer Frauen Bocholt e.V., foster children's service
Langenbergstraße 18, 46397 Bocholt, Tel. 02871 251820