Foster Families Research Articles

Revealing the Profile of Foster Parents, Biological Parents, Foster Children and the Triadic Relationship amongst them

This research paper explores the foster care framework in Greece, with a particular focus on the triadic relationship among foster carers, biological parents, and foster children. It refers to the current 30 hours compulsory training program of foster parents, emphasizing the necessity of a further specialized comprehensive training, on the ground that well prepared foster carers can better face the complexities of fostering. There is also an imperative need for ongoing support for foster parents, which will be provided in the context of social workers’ supervision to meet the behavioral and emotional challenges presented by foster children. The study investigates the potential hindrances faced during the child's placement within the foster home and the vital role social workers play in addressing these difficulties. It delves into the backgrounds of biological parents, foster carers, and foster children, examining the psychological issues and trauma they may confront. The paper highlights the paths of creating an emotional bond, trusting relationships, amongst the child and his/her foster parents and contact issues between foster and biological parents, asserting that these elements are crucial for the child's well-being and his/her integration into the foster family. Moreover, it recognizes the need for policy makers and practitioner’s collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches within the foster care system. The study concludes that well-structured support, the empowerment of children through resilience building, and a stable legal framework are foundational to successful application of the institution of fostering. It encourages future research in the form of longitudinal studies, the evaluation of training models, and cross-national comparisons that include Greek foster care organizations to ameliorate the effectiveness of foster care system. The research incorporates theoretical and research studies articles as well as selected books in the field to underline the importance of evidence-based practices in advancing the application of the institution of foster care as well as the experiences of both foster care children, biological and foster parents.

The Contemporary Foster Care Legislative Framework in Greece: A Review of its Assets and Weaknesses

This review comprehensively analyzes the contemporary Greek legislative foster care system according to N4538/2018, exploring all the relevant international agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights, that influenced its enactment. It highlights the rights and protection afforded to children in foster care, detailing provisions from the Hague Convention on the Rights of the Child and European legislation. It explores thoroughly the recent legislative reforms in Greece, including the establishment of the National Council for Foster Care and Adoption. It emphasizes the development and adherence to National and Special Registers for minors in the modern Child Protection System, as well as the implementation of Individual Family Rehabilitation Plans. It reveals that the recent legislation framework has many advantages but also a few weaknesses that could be amended. The legal procedures and criteria for placing minors in fostering in Greece, and the required criteria to ensure that foster parents meet the necessary guidelines to protect the best interests of children are discussed. This paper also examines the legal and procedural steps required to link children to foster families, the arrangements for supervision of foster parents and the consequences of fostering in cases of non-compliance. It is also proven that social workers play a key role in all stages and procedures of the application of the institution of foster care since they have taken up the main responsibilities for its implementation, prior, during and after the children are placed in foster parents. The article concludes that there is an imperative need for informed policies and practices that will ensure the adequate care and protection of minors in the foster system, recommending a synergy of legal, institutional, and educational strategies to optimize the welfare of foster children and support foster parents.

Breaking the Silence About Compulsory Social Measures in Switzerland: Consequences for Survivor Families

So‐called compulsory social measures (CSM) represent a dark chapter in Swiss history. Hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents from families affected by poverty were placed in foster families and homes, or used as labourers on farms. These decisions could hardly be appealed. Many minors suffered traumatic violence in out‐of‐home placements. In 1981 the relevant laws were redrafted and the practice of CSM was officially stopped. Nevertheless, CSM were considered taboo for decades in Swiss politics and society. Often survivors even concealed their experiences from their own partners and children. It was not until 2013 that a major political and social reappraisal began. Against this background, we analyse how the state breaking its silence on the issue, through the initiating of public reappraisal, changed the way families deal with their parents’ history regarding CSM. To this end, six biographical interviews with adult descendants of survivors were analysed using grounded theory methodology. The results show that the public reappraisal triggered processes of revealing secrets from parental history in families, which also enabled emotional rapprochement between family members. However, it also opened up new areas of family tension and found expression in new constellations of silence. Overall Switzerland’s state action had ambivalent consequences for survivor families.

Філософія виховання усиновлених дітей

When solving the problem of their placement of the orphans and children deprived of parental care, the parenting, which is carried out in family-type orphanages, foster families and adoptive families, became a priority. Translation into Ukrainian of Arleta James’ book «The science of parenting adopted children» will be a help for adoptive parents in its implementation. The book proposes the psychological characteristics of the arrived children and constructive practical advice on their parenting.

The point of view of children in residential and foster care on their health: A comparative study

Although it is a major issue, the health of children and adolescents in care is still mainly explored on the basis of information provided by adults in French studies. This study therefore aims to make up for the lack of studies integrating the young people’s own point of view and to explore certain aspects of health, as reported by the children and adolescents themselves, by comparing the health of children in care with that of children in the general population. The sample consists of 477 children in care (versus 23,672 who are not). The data were collected through a cross-sectional survey conducted by UNICEF France between October 2020 and March 2022 among 25,300 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 who responded to a paper or online self-administered questionnaire. The main results of this study confirm the existing findings concerning the much greater health care needs of children and adolescents placed outside their homes (foster families, children’s homes) compared to their peers. In particular, they underline greater psychological suffering linked to their life histories, health risk practices, sexual violence, and suicidal risk. The discussion addresses the complexity of the issues associated with their health and underlines the importance of taking into account the child’s own point of view.

Consultation to Adoptive Parents and Adoption Professionals in Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Findings From a Quality Improvement Project Analysis

The mental health vulnerability of children and young people in foster and adoptive families is well recognised, which has led to the development of dedicated posts and care pathways in mental health care provision. This article reports on learning resulting from local quality improvement work in a single child and adolescent mental health service team. This work was concerned with the ‘front door’ of access to care for these groups and specifically addresses initial consultations with adoptive parents and adoption professionals, reporting findings from an analysis of reports from consultations undertaken over a 13-month period between April 2021 and May 2022. The analysis highlights that support can be sought by these parents and professionals for diverse issues relating to mental health which is also indicative of a high level of need amongst children and young people involved with specialist mental health provision. The analysis also has wider implications for practice in demonstrating the benefits of attending to clinical data to contribute meaningfully to practice-based scholarship in this type of specialist setting.

PELAKSANAAN PROGRAM SEHATI SEBAGAI UPAYA PENURUNAN ANGKA KEMATIAN BAYI DI DESA KEPUHPANDAK KECAMATAN KUTOREJO KABUPATEN MOJOKERTO

Infant mortality is a death that occurs in children before the age of 1 year which occurs due to several factors. Infant mortality is one of the important indicators of public health and is associated with maternal mortality. Referring to the problem, the SEHATI Program (Healthy Tuesday to Prevent Maternal, Infant and Stunting Events) Program activities were initiated by the Mojokerto Regency Health Office which was monitored directly by the Mojokerto Regent. This effort is able to improve the ability of cadres to assist breastfeeding and foster families to be able to provide nutritious food to prevent stunting from an early age.

Experiences of Amish and Old Order Mennonite Families in Providing Foster Care for Children

This inductive, exploratory research project used thematic analysis to examine the experiences of Amish and Old Order Mennonite (Plain Anabaptist) foster parents in providing foster care to mainstream (non-Plain) children, including factors related to children’s trauma and disabilities, discipline, and families’ perceptions of support from their communities. Through purposive and snowball sampling, researchers gathered data from 24 families in either focus groups or dyad interviews in four U.S. states. The experiences of Plain Anabaptist foster families were characterized by participants as both satisfying and challenging. Plain Anabaptist families were receptive to learning and adapting to provide foster care, especially for babies, young children, and children with disabilities. Research findings illuminate several areas in which those recruiting or working with Plain Anabaptist foster parents should be aware.

Prevalence of periodontal diseases in children under 6 years old in the Republic of Tatarstan: impact of age and family structure

Relevance. This article addresses the prevalence of periodontal diseases in infants and preschool-aged children, considering factors such as the child's age and family structure within the region of the Republic of Tatarstan. Periodontal diseases, in conjunction with dental caries and dental abnormalities, represent the most frequently observed oral health conditions among children and adolescents.Materials and methods. The research involved 2429 families and 2556 preschool-aged children representing diverse family structures within Kazan, Arsk, and Pestrechinsky districts in the Republic of Tatarstan. During the survey, five primary family classifications emerged: complete, incomplete, extended, reconstituted, and foster families. The research methodology involved conducting interviews with parents, close relatives, or guardians, coupled with comprehensive examinations of the children, documenting both systemic disease and general health information using specifically tailored charts. Data analysis included determining mean values (M), mean error of the score (m), and Student's t-test criterion (t). Significance among group disparities was established at a probability of error less than 5% (p < 0.05). The gathered data underwent interpretation, considering both family structure and the spectrum of periodontal diseases.Results. Periodontal diseases were found to affect children from foster and incomplete families most significantly, with prevalence rates exceeding 90% in certain age groups. Children from complete and extended families exhibited lower prevalence rates of periodontal diseases, at 9.8% and 22.2%, respectively. Notably, within all age brackets, the highest occurrence of periodontal diseases was observed among children aged 4.6-6 years, constituting 57.0% of cases. Infants under one year old displayed the lowest susceptibility, with only 16.3% affected. Upon analyzing disease prevalence among children in the Republic of Tatarstan, a significant disparity emerged: children residing in rural areas demonstrated a higher susceptibility to periodontal diseases in comparison to their urban counterparts.Conclusion. The findings reveal a clear correlation between a child's family structure and the occurrence of periodontal diseases. Establishing the family structure and implementing tailored preventive measures specific to periodontal diseases, while considering both the child's family structure and age, plays a significant role in averting the onset and progression of this condition.

Can increased support to foster care families reduce the number of moves for children in out‐of‐home care? Evidence from Norway

AbstractNorwegian youth in out‐of‐home care move three times as frequently as their peers. Such placement instability is linked to negative outcomes in terms of social attachment, well‐being, educational achievements, health, and future opportunities. Norway implemented a new child welfare service reform in 2022 that increased the municipalities responsibilities for out‐of‐home care. The “incentive package” and “Barneløftet” were measures implemented to prepare the municipalities for these changes. This study evaluates how the implemented measures affect the number of moves within out‐of‐home care in Trøndelag county. An event‐study design with difference‐in‐difference estimates was used to study the effect of the measures. The data are Norwegian registers that include most children in out‐of‐home care from 2013 to 2021. The findings of this study indicate that increased support for foster care homes significantly reduces the number of moves. Increased placement stability is associated with an increased sense of belonging, thus facilitating positive development.

The causes of TB development in a child with HIV infection

The article represents a clinical observation of the development of disseminated TB in a 12-year-old child with HIV infection, a high CD4 lymphocyte count (1315 cells/μl), and undetectable viral load (<20 copies per ml of blood). Perinatal transmission occurred, HIV infection was diagnosed immediately after birth, ART was administered from the first days of life. The girl has lived in a foster family since the age of 12 months. Poor adherence to treatment resulted in raised viral load. At the same time, the girl got ill with severe measles. ART was corrected with a rapid positive immunological and virological effect. One year later, TB manifested under the guise of acute bronchopulmonary disease. The examination revealed traces of infancy intrathoracic lymph node TB in the form of small calcinates. The patient had not been previously examined for TB infection and never received preventive TB treatment. The development of acute progressive TB in the child with HIV infection and satisfactory immunological and virological indicators was caused by: lack of due interdisciplinary (pediatricians, infectiologists, phthisiologists) and interdepartmental (medical services, children’s services) interactions; poor adherence to treatment; past measles.

Recruiting foster families for teenagers in Italy: Motivational elements, socio‐demographic characteristics and availability factors

AbstractAccording to government data, there is a slow decline in foster care in Italy, especially for teenagers, caused by an insufficient number of available foster families. The need to provide an intense stimulus to foster care is evident. This study conducted individual qualitative interviews with 126 foster parents of teenagers, transcribed and analysed using Atlas.ti software. Valuable indications for social services were individuated. The importance of the foster parents' intrinsic motivations and the suggestion for social services to emphasize them in the recruitment campaigns were reaffirmed. The appropriateness of directing the proposal towards foster parents with previous experience in parenting, foster parenting or working with teenagers was also confirmed. Additionally, results revealed that foster parents connected to foster parents' associations/networks and religious groups are preferred. The importance of the relationship between foster parents and social services and suitable support for the ongoing fostering is pivotal. Establishing a relationship based on trust and the diffusion of the foster care invitation through testimonies and word‐of‐mouth was also highlighted. The initiatives promoting spaces and occasions for teens needing foster care and potential candidates for fostering to meet them have promising outcomes.

Malnutrition and its determinants among older adults living in foster families in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). A cross-sectional study.

Foster families may represent an alternative model for dependent older adults in many countries where nursing homes are insufficiently developed. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its determinants in older adults living in foster families in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). This cross-sectional study was gathered from the KASAF (Karukera Study of Ageing in Foster families) study (n = 107, 41M/66F, Mdn 81.8 years). Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). Clinical characteristics and scores on geriatric scales (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Center for Epidemiologic Studies- Depression (CESD) and Questionnaire Quality of Life Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD)) were extracted. Bivariate analysis and logistic models adjusted for age and gender were performed to test the association of nutritional status with socio-demographic variables and geriatric scales. Thirty (28.0%) older adults were malnourished (MNA-SF score ≤7). In bivariate analysis, malnutrition was associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (46.7% versus 19.5%, p = 0.004), the presence of hemiplegia (30.0% versus 6.5%, p = 0.003), a poorer cognitive status (MMSE score 4.7 ± 7.1versus 9.7 ± 10.7; p = 0.031), higher risk of depression (CESD score 27.3 ± 23.0 versus 13.5 ± 14.4; p = 0.035) and dependency (ADL score 1.9 ± 1.9 versus 2.3 ± 2.1; p<0.001). Malnutrition was also associated with lower caregivers'rating of QoL (QoL-AD score 21.8 ± 6.4 versus 26.0 ± 5.7; p = 0.001) but not by older adult's rating (24.1 ± 11.2 versus 28.3 ± 7.7; p = 0.156). Similar associations were observed in logistic models adjusted for age and gender. Malnutrition was common among foster families for older adults. Special attention towards the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in older adults from cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, dependency and depression is necessary in this model of dependency support.

Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Individuals With a History of Out-of-home Care.

Exposure to childhood out-of-home care (foster family and residential care) is associated with an increased risk of ill-health and disability in adulthood, but the risk for cardiovascular disease has not previously been studied longitudinally. This was a national cohort study generated from linkage of a range of population-based registers, resulting in a national cohort of 881 731 of whom 26 310 (3.0%) had a history of out-of-home care. The study population, born 1972 to 1981, was followed from age 18 to age 39 to 48 years for hospitalizations and death. After adjusting for year of birth and maternal education, individuals with a history of childhood out-of-home-care experienced a doubling of the risk for coronary disease (hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval: 2.05; 1.74-2.41) and stroke (hazard ratio 1.85; 1.59-2.15), compared with the general population, with similar estimates for men and women. Women with a history of out-of-home care had a more than doubled risk for cigarette smoking in early pregnancy, with a relative risk of 2.26; (2.18-2.34) and a moderately increased risk for gestational diabetes relative risk 1.49 (1.19-1.86). There was marked attenuation (40% to 90%) in effect estimates for disease and risk factors after further control for cohort members educational achievement at age 15-16 years. A history of childhood out-of-home care was associated with a doubled risk of early cardiovascular disease events. Cigarette smoking and educational underachievement were the main identified risk factors.

Des droits de protection aux droits humains des enfants Mirjam Janett, Vormundschaft und Fremdplatzierung in der Schweiz im 20. Jahrhundert. Ein Einblick in die neuere Forschung

In the 20th century, tens of thousands of children grew up in care homes, reformatories or foster families in Switzerland. The article provides an insight into the most important findings of recent research on the out-of-home placement of children and adolescents. It shows how family became an element of social control in the 20th century. The out-of-home placement of minors from precarious families was part of a repressive welfare policy aimed at enforcing bourgeois ideas of order and making children « socially acceptable ». However, inclusion often led to exclusion

The Perspectives of Family Foster Care in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia

Reforms of the child protection systems, provision of family- and community-based alternative care has been developed to a certain level in all countries in Central and Eastern Europe and has increased the role of care provided by foster families replacing institutions to ensure that the best interests principle is taken into consideration when children are separated from their families. The research describes the foster care system in the so-called Visegrád countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, and the results based on at least 50 interviews in each country conducted by local experts on subjective well-being of foster parents, their perceptions about their roles and place in their respective countries and their needs. The article includes the legal framework, recruitment, preparation and support to foster families, their subjective well-being and needs in the four countries, including the history of their child protection systems to better understand the current situation. The outcomes show differences in approach to foster care, the perception on the roles, responsibilities and needs based on the different traditions, earlier and current policies and practices. Understanding the attitude changes related to the rights of children, those in vulnerable situations, and to their families of origin would be essential to further develop and improve the child welfare and protection systems, and listening to children on their perceptions and the realisation of their rights.

The Regulation of Foster Care: Using Federal Rulemaking to Update Foster Care Licensing Standards

The US foster care system is stretched far beyond its capacity due to a lack of funding, limited permanent foster child placement options, and outdated foster care guidelines. To address several of these issues, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) enacted a rule in November 2023 to change the legal definition of “foster family home” in the Social Security Act to more closely align the foster care system with best practices. This paper explores how the ACF used federal rulemaking to modify foster family licensing standards, the implications for the foster care system, and additional recommendations that the ACF may consider to maximize the rule’s impact.

Emerging Social Waqf Model for the Welfare of Pandemic Orphans

The increasing number of COVID-19 orphans in Malaysia poses an alarming threat to the socio-economic fabric of the nation. Hence, policymakers are confronted with this escalating dilemma, as the surging population of COVID-19 orphans could lead to a rise in problems, such as child sexual abuse, children dropping out of school and suicide. The pandemic of orphans as one of the hidden tragedies of COVID-19 has triggered the need for a sustainable social intervention that can guarantee the socio-economic protection and psycho-emotional care of orphans, especially in Muslim societies. Moreover, the reported number of orphans in the world is over 140 million children, with almost six million pandemic orphans arising from COVID-19 deaths across the globe. Recent studies also suggest that some of the children in orphanages in Malaysia are malnourished from skipping breakfast, lack dental care and even basic needs because of limited funding. Nevertheless, social waqf has been receiving significant attention as an Islamic social intervention to cater to vulnerable members of society. Studies have shown that Islamic religious institutions and organisations have been sustained through the waqf system. The enormity of the challenge posed by the COVID-19 orphans is such that some activists have been calling on the government to adopt the children into its social scheme. Overwhelmed by the socio-economic challenges arising from the pandemic, the government has also been appealing to private stakeholders to extend their social mission to the care of pandemic orphans. It also requires funding for individual families willing to provide care and protection for orphans. Hence, this highlights the need for an appropriate intervention to take care of the pandemic orphans. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of the potential of social waqf interventions for orphans’ care. Extensive desk research on the classical evidence of the socio-economic protection of orphans in Islam was detailed. The study explores the Islamic guidelines for fostering orphans through kafala (custody), for fostering orphans and children without biological parents. From the findings, the study proposed a Waqf model useful for providing social welfare intervention and adequate financial support for the sustainable care of orphans' needs through social workers, orphanages, foster care families, and further empowerment of orphans with needy single parents.

The life situation of post-guardianship in the representations of members of kinship guardian families

The completion of guardianship is an important period for all family members and can be considered as a special life situation. The study of the post-care period allows us to assess the quality of the passage of the previous stages and to see the prospects for further development of both the foster children (post-foster children) and the guardians (post-guardians). Currently, this stage of the life of foster families is not sufficiently reflected in scientific research. There is a need to supplement empirical data on the problems of foster families after the end of guardianship. The purpose of the study is to study the features of the life situation of postguardianship in the representations of post-guardians and post-foster children. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire has been developed that contains questions aimed at identifying the structure of the post-guardian family, studying subjective assessments of changes in the life situation, analyzing the level of maintaining relationships in the “post-guardian — post-foster children” system, subjective assessment of the level of maintaining social contacts, identifying the ability and willingness of the former guardian to transfer responsibility, subjective assessment of the post-foster children readiness for independent identification of the level of satisfaction with the result of interaction in the family. The study involved 214 members of kinship guardian families. Of these, 112 orphaned children aged 18–25 years and 102 post-guardians aged 45–75 years. The analysis of the responses showed differences in the ideas about the life situation of post-guardianship members of kinship guardian families. Positive ideas about the life situation were revealed in the post-foster children, who at the time of the study had already created their own families and those who live independently. Post-foster children and postguardians, living together, gave lower ratings for the categories of the situation under consideration. Lower ratings were revealed in the representations of post-guardian grandmothers than in the representations of post-guardian aunts. Post-guardian grandmothers living alone, in all the categories under consideration, have negative ideas about the post-guardianship situation, which indicates the need to develop and organize psychological support.

Основные проблемы сопровождения замещающих семей

Основные проблемы сопровождения замещающих семей