IFCO brings together people involved in Foster Care at our regular international and regional conferences. Through these networking events, professionals have the opportunity to exchange information and good practice in family based Foster Care. Our conferences provide a multi-cultural arena where children, young people, foster carers, parents whose children are in Foster Care, social workers, academics, researchers, volunteers, media, policy makers and others can meet, share experience and support each other.
All conference attendees are united behind the common aim of helping to make it the right of every child to live in a family.
Forthcoming conferences
At the moment IFCO is looking to identify two host countries for the next IFCO Regional Conference that will take place in 2019 and IFCO World Conference scheduled for 2020. To learn more about the proceedings, the deadlines and evaluation criteria, please, download the full Call for Expression of Interest attached at the bottom of this page.
Previous conferences
Between 1981 and to date, we have staged 38 regional and international conferences in a wide range of locations:
| 2017 | Valetta, Malta (International) |
| 2016 | Sheffield, UK (Regional) |
| 2015 | Sydney, Australia (International) |
| 2014 | Waterford, Ireland (Regional) |
| 2013 | Osaka, Japan (International) |
| 2012 | Sofia, Bulgaria (Regional) |
| 2011 | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (International) |
| 2010 | Brighton, United Kingdom (Regional) |
| 2009 | Dublin, Ireland (International) |
| 2007 | Hamilton, New Zealand (International) Mellieha, Malta (Regional) |
| 2006 | Bratislava, Slovakia (Regional) Bucharest, Romania (Project) |
| 2005 | Madison, USA (international) |
| 2004 | Prague, Czech Republic (Regional) Paramaribo, Surinam (Regional) |
| 2003 | La Plata, Argentina (International) |
| 2002 | Tampere, Finland (Regional) |
| 2001 | Veldhoven, The Netherlands (International) |
| 2000 | Cork, Ireland (Regional) |
| 1999 | Melbourne, Australia (International) |
| 1998 | Budapest, Hungary (Regional) Manilla, The Philippines (Regional) |
| 1997 | Vancouver, Canada (International) |
| 1996 | Los Angeles, USA (Regional) |
| 1995 | Bergen, Norway (international) |
| 1994 | Berlin, Germany (regional) |
| 1993 | Dublin, Ireland (International) |
| 1992 | Gent, Belgium (Regional) |
| 1991 | Jonkoping, Sweden (international) |
| 1990 | Athens, Greece (Regional) |
| 1989 | Michigan, USA (International) |
| 1988 | Lunteren, The Netherlands (Regional) |
| 1987 | Leeds, United Kingdom (International) |
| 1985 | Christchurch, New Zealand (Regional) |
| 1983 | Christchurch, New Zealand (Regional) |
| 1982 | Beekse Bergen, The Netherlands (Regional) |
| 1981 | Slagharen, The Netherlands (International) |
| 1979 | Oxford, United Kingdom (International) |