Petra Krell ran a playgroup in 1976 and was asked by the youth welfare office whether she could imagine working as a foster mother. Her first daughter was two years old at the time, but for Petra Krell it was a matter of course to be there for other children too. "I love helping," she says. Over the past 50 years, she has taken in 67 foster children as a "temporary mother", putting her heart and soul into giving the girls and boys a home and introducing them to family life. "The children have shaped and enriched my life. I got a lot in return," says Petra Krell.
Her husband Jürgen played a big part in the success of foster parenthood. "My husband was involved in everything. He looked after the children, helped change their nappies, played with them and took on driving duties," says Petra Krell.
Her own children have always warmly welcomed the foster children and integrated them into family life. Each child was accepted with its own special characteristics. Family life was shaped together and on an equal footing.
"I experienced a lot of wonderful things," says Petra Krell, looking back on her work. Some of the foster children, especially those in full-time care, still keep in touch, ask her for advice or let her share their lives with them.
Petra Krell says that she would always be there for children as a "temporary mother". "It's a calling," she says. It's a responsible job that hasn't always been easy, but the team at the Salzgitter foster care service has always stood by her side and helped her.
The team does the same for all other (foster mothers and) foster families. Support and exchange are part of it.
The gap that Petra Krell will leave behind as a "temporary mother" is huge. The fostering service team would therefore be delighted to hear from anyone interested in taking on this important role.
Information on standby care - "temporary mother"
On-call foster care is a family-based crisis intervention service. It offers the possibility of temporarily placing a child in a standby foster family for protection and to clarify the need for help.
The City of Salzgitter's foster care service (PKD) offers this form of assistance as a temporary, crisis-oriented placement, particularly for younger children.
In 2025, five on-call foster carers were working for the city of Salzgitter, including Petra Krell.
67 children have lived with Petra and Jürgen Krell in Lengede over the past 50 years. Petra Krell was simultaneously occupied by the district of Peine with full-time foster children (six children) and by the city of Salzgitter with standby foster children. In total, she always had two places available for on-call foster children from Salzgitter for spontaneous occupancy and regularly took these children on vacation with her.
Anyone interested in this task does not have to live in Salzgitter. Single people can apply, as can patchwork families or same-sex couples.
Further information on standby care
On-call foster care has the task of providing the child with security, stability and a relationship and helps to clarify the child's future prospects, i.e. either returning to the parents or being placed with someone else. The standby foster parents facilitate frequent contact with the parents, which is accompanied by the foster children's service. The foster parents accompany the child to doctor's visits, therapies and diagnostic appointments.
The duration of on-call care should be kept as short as possible and should not exceed three to a maximum of six months.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about this important task without obligation, please contact: 05341 839 4581.
Adoptionsdienst.pflegekinderdienst@stadt.salzgitter.de