Foster Families Research Articles

Home and family in alternative care – how Finnish legislation creates opportunities for belonging

ABSTRACT Alternative care can be offered through foster family care, residential care or adoption. The need to belong is equal for all groups of children, but the opportunities for creating a sense of belonging for them are different. An analysis of the laws and government propositions steering alternative care in Finland was conducted. The analysis was inspired by Critical discourse analysis (CDA) and performed across cases of the different types of care. The discourse on belonging was operationalised mainly through the concepts of home and family. These concepts were analysed in relation to the spatial, relational and temporal dimensions of belonging. In the laws and legal documents steering alternative care in Finland, adoption is about legal relations, while foster family and residential care concern the environment for upbringing. The opportunities for creating a sense of belonging are very different in the three forms of care. In residential care, legislation in relation to the home and family mainly considers the past; in foster family care, it considers the past and the present; and in adoption, it considers the future. In addition to legislation failing to consider temporal aspects, it also does not recognise the complexity of family life.

Attitude of adoptive and biological parents to tactile interaction with children

Introduction. The problem of children's adaptation to foster families remains relevant for many years all over the world. However, there is now evidence that humans have two tactile systems, one of which is social and is activated by slow, gentle touch. The idea arose that adoptive parents could be taught such touches using the example of a special massage. But for this you need to know the attitude of parents towards touch in principle. That is why the purpose of this study was to study parents’ attitudes towards tactile interaction with children. Methodology. 277 foster and biological parents (M=39.9; SD=7.6) completed a survey using Google Forms that included 48 statements scored on a psychometric Likert scale. The work used theoretical (analysis, comparison and synthesis), empirical (survey) and statistical (correlation, regression and factor analysis using the SPSS 21 software package) research methods. Results and discussion. Significant inconsistency was found regarding physical sanctions among all groups of respondents. Thus, by unanimously declaring a negative attitude towards punishing the children of other children, respondents allow this to happen to themselves (Ro=-0.603, p<0.001), which affects the personal impact of the child’s development (Ro=-0.508, p<0.001). All mothers reported detecting excessive tactile contact with the child (Ro=0.544, p<0.001). The 4-factor model shows an ambiguous attitude of respondents towards gentle, tactile interaction with both their children and parents in their own childhood (KMO=0.792; p<0.000; 63.1%). Signs of emotional burnout are observed in all parents, but are especially pronounced in adopted ones (p=0.007; R2 =0.056; DW=1.633; r=0.236). Conclusion. Before inviting parents to try massage based on gentle tactile interactions with children, it is necessary to provide training in methods of rewarding and punishing children within the family without violence. A burnout prevention program is needed for all parents.

Matching in practice: how to find the right family foster home for the right child

The concept of matching refers to the process of selecting a family foster home to fit an individual child in placement. Matching is important for the quality of care, as the carers need the necessary resources to meet the child’s needs. Failure in matching can have negative consequences, such as a ‘breakdown’. The aim of this article is to explore the social workers’ practice when matching children and foster carers to ensure the children will receive good care and avoid a placement change. The article uses a qualitative approach and is based on interviews with 31 participants. Social workers and managers at municipal social services, as well as consultants, were interviewed about their work. The professionals reflected on what aspects they perceive as most important in matching and what challenges they encounter that complicate the process. Narratives of successful matches often focused on the characteristics, competence and experience of the foster carers to meet the needs of the children. Some of the challenges highlighted were time pressure and a lack of family foster homes to choose from. This means that professionals have to compromise and prioritise what is most important in relation to the needs of the child.

Foster care breakdown in adolescence: A retrospective view of young individuals on their experiences

Summary Placement with a foster family is one of the care arrangements available for children who cannot live at home. Many of those in foster care are teenagers. The complexity of the development during adolescence poses major challenges and may ultimately lead to what is known in the literature as “foster breakdown.” Most of the research in this area focuses on the point of view of social workers or foster parents. The current study examines this experience through a retrospective view of those who were teenagers at the time of foster care breakdown. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Israeli young individuals (16–30 years old) who had experienced foster breakdown at various stages of adolescence. Findings The findings paint a complex and multidimensional picture of breakdown. While most of the interviewees described it as a sudden, unexpected event, closer examination revealed a dynamic process of collapse. This process comprised various factors, including those associated with the welfare system, the foster family, and characteristics related to the developmental stage of adolescence of the research participants. The combination of these factors led to the premature termination of the foster arrangement. Applications This study opens a window to the complex experience of foster breakdown in adolescence, an issue that has received very little research attention thus far. Understanding the dynamics of foster breakdown from the perspective of young individuals can improve professional foster care practices and policy and can benefit social workers in their work with foster families.

THE SPECIFICITY OF VICTIMITY FORMATION IN ORPHAN STUDENTS RAISED IN BOARDING SCHOOLS AND FOSTER FAMILIES

The article presents prognostic models of victimity formation in orphan students raised in boarding schools and foster families. A regression analysis was conducted, calculations were made taking into account the uniqueness of different victim roles, i.e. separately for two dependent variables - the “victim acting role” and “victim social role”. The authors determine parameters that should be considered in psychological support of activities of boarding institutions and foster families.

Skills and knowledge therapists need to work with foster youth and families: According to key stakeholders in child welfare.

The current study relied on community-based participatory action research and qualitative methodology to explore the necessary skills and knowledge psychotherapists need to work effectively with foster youth and their families. In this study, the research team conducted interviews and focus groups with stakeholders (n = 48) in child welfare to learn how to support therapeutic relationships with foster youth clients. Using qualitative content analysis, the research team identified eight categories for needed knowledge and/or skills, such as collaboration with and inclusion of others in a client's system; flexibility and open-mindedness to individualize care follow the client's lead; and a solid understanding of trauma and attachment supported by therapist training and regular consultation specifically around foster care. These findings offer tangible suggestions for skills that psychotherapists can learn and practice in order to support beneficial mental health services for foster youth.

To Belong: Narratives About Family Belonging Among Children in Foster Families or Where Custody has been Transferred

Abstract Background In 1983, 2001, 2002 and 2020 Swedish legislation has sought to strengthen children’s rights to family belonging in foster care, as well as their voices in decision making. The aim of this study was to understand how children in long-term foster families and children whose custody has been transferred experience family belonging within these different legal contexts. Methods: Six participants aged 11–17 years were recruited. The data were collected through narrative interviews. Both verbal and visual methods were used in data collection and narrative analysis was used to capture a comprehensive understanding of the stories. Findings: It is suggested that a sense of family belonging can be understood through the following themes: “To spend time”, “To share experiences”, “To be seen, cared for, and supported”, “To resemble someone”, and “To know or not to know”. Conclusion: Practical implications of the findings are discussed in relation to planning, guidance, and decision-making within foster care. The results, if implemented in practice, could have an impact on how to discuss foster children’s sense of family belonging within the foster care system.

Developing a group-based psychoeducation intervention for adoptive parents and foster carers in a specialist child and adolescent mental health service setting

Children and young people in foster and adoptive families are considered more vulnerable to a high level of mental health need when compared to peers who are not care-experienced or adopted. Acceptance of this view amongst clinical providers and policy makers has necessitated the development of specialist provision and dedicated care pathways within child and adolescent mental health services. In this provision, practitioner-initiated quality improvement projects help in appraising the effectiveness of clinical interventions in local contexts, as well as identifying areas for service learning and practice reflection. This article reports on the evaluation of a mentalisation-based psychoeducation group intervention for adoptive parents and foster carers. The evaluation activity took place in a single child and adolescent mental health service setting, starting during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the intervention being implemented online via videoconferencing. In the article, after introducing the intervention (based on the Family Minds model), an analysis of clinical data collected pre- and post-intervention is reported. Few results of the analysis regarding the two pre- and post-measures reached statistical significance, indicating only changes in the magnitude of stress in the parent/carer-child system. A series of reflections are posed that consider what this finding means in developing fit-for-purpose support for adoptive parents and foster carers in child and adolescent mental health service contexts.

Parenting stress, dyadic coping and endocrine markers of stress and resilience in foster and biological mothers.

Foster parents have been shown to report higher levels of parenting stress but also more dyadic coping (DC) behaviors in their partnership than biological parents, which might be an important protective factor that helps them cope with daily stressors. Here, we examined how parenting stress and DC are related in foster and biological parents and whether these are reflected in long-term alterations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity. A total of 79 foster mothers and 131 biological mothers participated in a longitudinal study. At the initial assessment, children were aged 2-7 years and lived for an average of 18 months in their current foster family. Mothers' cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations and their cortisol/DHEA ratios were assessed in scalp hair twice with approximately 11 months in between, while their perceived parenting stress and DC were measured by self-report questionnaires. Results showed no significant differences between foster mothers and biological mothers in cortisol, DHEA and cortisol/DHEA concentrations. While more DC was longitudinally related to lower levels of parenting stress across both study groups, no significant associations were found to endocrine markers. Thus, these findings indicate that increased parenting stress levels were not, or not strongly, reflected in HPA axis alterations as assessed in hair. Our findings thus add evidence for non-significant associations between self-reported perceived stress and chronic HPA axis markers. Future studies may explore whether early interventions, including those aimed at promoting and maintaining positive DC, are beneficial in preventing the development of stress-related illnesses in foster parents.

The role of peer social support on family psychological resilience in caring for Chronic Kidney Disease patients receiving hemodialysis

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a disease that necessitates continuous Hemodialysis (HD) therapy, and families, as primary caregivers in Indonesia, play a crucial role in caring for CKD patients. However, HD therapy places a significant burden not only on patients but also on their families, requiring fostering family psychological resilience to mitigate such a burden. Although peer social support is an important external factor in chronic disease, it is still underdeveloped. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation between peer social support and family psychological resilience in caring for CKD patients receiving HD.This cross-sectional study used purposive sampling, engaging 134 families serving as caregivers for patients receiving HD therapy. The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS) and The Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire (WFRQ) were adopted as instruments, and data were analyzed using univariate and Spearman tests.The majority of families reported high levels of peer social support (75,37%), predominantly originating from other members facing similar challenges related to caring for CKD patients. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between peer social support and family psychological resilience (p-value<0.05), showing that higher levels of peer support corresponded to higher family resilience.In conclusion, there was a strong correlation between peer social support and family resilience in the context of caring for CKD patients. Healthcare professionals should integrate social support intervention by establishing social groups to enhance family resilience.

Impact of visits on fostered children’s and families’ well-being: views of birth families, foster families and social workers

ABSTRACT This study explores the views of foster families and social workers, and often-overlooked parents of foster children on the benefits and drawbacks of visits. It also values changes in families’ perspectives after participating in a positive parenting program to improve visits quality. Findings from pre-post- semi-structured interviews revealed little progress in defining contact arrangements on a case-by-case basis and in engaging families in visits preparation. Comparison of the data collected rendered a more favorable appraisal of the visits after the intervention. Implications for social work practice highlighr ways to improve visits quality and the well-being of all those involve.

Who Consents? Medical Decision-Making for Children in Foster Care.

Children in foster care have complexity around medical decision-making because of their unique custody status. When medical decision-making is necessary for a child in foster care, what perspectives are important? What if opinions are not aligned? Who makes the final decision for consent? This Ethics Rounds focuses on a young child in foster care who has had repeated ear infections. Foster caregivers and family of origin are not in agreement on the treatment plan. Two experts, a foster care pediatrician and a child welfare professional, comment on the important considerations for the case, including involvement of legal representation and best interest representation in medical decision-making as well as the variability in child welfare response by state.

Sons and daughters of foster carers: Exposure to risk and harm

AbstractChildren who are looked after by the state are some of the most vulnerable in society and have usually experienced neglect, abuse and other trauma. As a result of their experiences, many exhibit challenging and/or aggressive behaviour. Currently, in England, around 68% of the children entering the care system are placed with foster carers, many of whom also have their own children living in the home. This study used narrative interviews to gain the views of the biological children of foster carers about their experience of being brought up in a fostering family. Twelve participants aged 18 and 54 were recruited using convenience and snowballing sampling strategies. Findings revealed that the foster carers own children and fostered children often developed close relationships and that fostered children frequently shared detailed accounts of the abuse they had experienced before entering care. Knowledge of the abuse often left the carers' own children both troubled and in a dilemma about what to do with the information. They also revealed that some of the foster carers' own children had been abused by their foster siblings and had chosen not to disclose this information to their parents or others. Several of the participants expressed ongoing feelings of distress when discussing their experiences and those of their foster siblings, which raises questions about how best to support this important group of children and young people.

Understanding the roles and challenges of child protection employees in out-of-home care arrangements for children of minority and immigrant backgrounds in Rogaland, Norway

ABSTRACT The study was designed to understand the roles and challenges of child protection services (CPS) employees in arranging out-of-home care for children with minority and immigrant backgrounds in Rogaland, Norway. Findings from the six in-depth interviews with CPS employees showed that, guided by existing laws and policies, they follow three phases from investigation to the care order decision. The premium they place on “best-interests-of-children” can be contested in relation to the rights of the family. CPS employees day-to-day challenges include understanding minority families cultural backgrounds, finding foster families, and communication. Based on the findings, policy and practice recommendations are made.

Family-focused practice and policy recommendations to improve the inpatient experience for patients undergoing a stem cell transplant.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) greatly impacts the social, emotional, and physical well-being of the patient and their family. The transplant process imposes significant lifestyle restrictions that result in patient and family isolation, which has been further amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic era. While hospital systems recognize the importance of family engagement, the pandemic underscored the need to translate this philosophy more fully into practice. We discuss the importance of engaging the family throughout the transplant experience to improve patient outcomes and overall family health and well-being. We present the HCT family resilience model, a synthesis of multiple family and nursing theories and HCT concepts to better guide HCT family care. The theories and frameworks that inform our model address family functioning and growth in times of stress, coping strategies that promote positive family outcomes and resilience, and multicultural factors that may affect family experiences. A key contribution of our model is highlighting the role of family engagement in improving HCT family outcomes. Application of a family systems lens highlights the essential role families play in the care of HCT patients and can foster family well-being. We offer the HCT family resilience conceptual model as a guide for practice and policy improvements to optimize care delivery for this patient and family population, as well as direction for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Благополучие особо уязвимых категорий детей: по итогам научно-практической конференции

<p>The article was prepared based on the results of the international scientific and practical conference “Child welfare: from scientific research to practical application in the interests of children”, held in November 2023. Presentations by specialists from various regions of the country within the framework of the session “Welfare of particularly vulnerable categories of children” were devoted to the study of factors affecting the well-being of particularly vulnerable groups of children, conducting monitoring, identifying targets of assistance, as well as implementing support programs. The importance of information and educational work for the formation of a positive attitude of society towards foster children and families, children with lifelong medical diagnoses was noted. The research results have shown how important it is to involve children in assessing their own well-being. This approach not only strengthens their voice, but also contributes to a better and more individualized support for families raising children of this category. With regard to children of particularly vulnerable categories, conclusions are drawn about the additional importance of environmental factors (micro, macro, meso levels) for the formation of a sense of well-being, as well as about the influence on well-being of specific factors related to the child’s previous life, peculiarities of socio-psychological development, medical diagnosis and many others. In turn, this leads to the fact that not only development, but also stabilization and preservation can be an indicator of well-being.</p>

First Description of a Large Clinical Series of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Children and Adolescents in Reunion Island, France.

Despite several diagnostic guidelines, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) remain underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, delaying the care of these patients and support for families. This study aims to help professionals caring for these children and their families to suspect this diagnosis earlier and to provide the most appropriate follow-up. A retrospective chart review with monocentric recruitment was performed at the Genetics Unit of the University Hospital of Reunion Island. A total of 147 children and adolescents with FASDs were included. Prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with paternal alcohol consumption in 42.9%, and a high rate of prematurity (33.3%) was observed. Sixty percent of children or adolescents were placed in foster families. Learning difficulties without cognitive deficits were found in 65.8% of cases (50/76). Postural control and fine motor skills disabilities were described, respectively, in 54.7% (35/64) and 72.5% (50/69) of cases. A systematic genetic assessment was carried out, identifying in these FASD patients an associated Copy Number Variation (CNVs) in 22.6% of cases. Children with FASDs combine significant vulnerabilities, associating exposure to alcohol during the preconception and/or the prenatal period, prematurity, complex familial and sociocultural living conditions, and a genetic anomaly in almost a quarter of cases.

Mechanism of Adaptation Of Children Left Without Parental Care To The Foster Family

Today, the number of operating family orphanages is 136, where 808 children are being educated. With the initiatives of the President, the activity of these families is aimed at further improvement, as well as a number of comforts and conveniences for parents, their own children and foster children, new laws defining benefits were adopted. This article presents the anylyses of activities in terms of “Family Upbringing” program in order assit the adaptation of children left without parental care in foster families and prepare them for family life.

Your Grandfather Is Wong Tin Lee

In this autoethnography, the author uses racial formation theory to contextualize her family experiences and the life story told to her by her grandmother. In an effort to clarify some aspects of family history after her grandmother passed away, the author searched Australian archival records looking for new information and accidentally uncovered a family secret. Specifically, their ancestors were neither upper class nor were they all white Europeans; the family story in Australia actually begins with an interracial marriage between a man from Canton, China, and a white woman born into extreme poverty. Moreover, two generations of children in this multiracial family had been removed from their parents and placed in institutions and foster families. The family history presented here challenges assumptions about what it means to be Australian and who was living in the Australian colonies at the time of Australian Federation. White Australia is explored as both an immigration policy and as a racial project that shaped the lives of non-whites living in Australia, including that of Chinese and multiracial Australians like the author’s maternal ancestors.

“On an Island”: Foster parent experiences of support during the COVID-19 pandemic

In caring for some of our most vulnerable children, foster parents fill a critically important and challenging role. Yet, research demonstrates that they often experience a lack of social support in this role, a factor that has been shown to buffer against the ill effects of foster parent stress. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, foster families lost access to typical supports while stressors multiplied. The present study examined the experiences of social support among foster parents during the pandemic through the use of individual semi-structured interviews with 16 licensed foster parents in one Midwestern state. Findings were organized into four main themes, each shedding light on an aspect of foster parents’ experiences of support (or lack thereof) during the pandemic. Themes were titled using direct quotes from participants and include: (1) “On an island,” (2) “You have to respect the foster parent,” (3) “The only way I survived,” and (4) “Supportive in a way that was safe.” Participants indicated that the pandemic exacerbated many challenging aspects of fostering, such as isolation and feeling disrespected. However, some sources of support, such as extended family, were invaluable. Additionally, many forms of support were either developed or adapted to be delivered in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines. The findings presented here carry implications for foster care research and practice both within and beyond public health emergencies such as COVID-19.