Children in substitute care: Some conceptual considerations and research implications

Abstract

Children in substitute care have a much increased rate of psychosocial problems but also they come from high risk backgrounds. Risk and protective influences include: genetic factors; physical traumata; preadmission psychosocial experiences; experiences ‘in care’, and experiences after leaving care. Interplay among these is usual. Follow-up studies show the reality of resilience in the face of adversity but also they indicate persistent sequelae in some cases in spite of major environmental improvements. Key challenges for the present and future are considered with respect to: societal responses to parenting failure; adoption; family foster care; kinship foster care; and residential group care. Mainstream research needs to pay greater attention to policy and practice questions and action research needs to take better advantage of improvements in research methodology.