Foster Care | Better Care Network

Foster Care

The term “foster care” is used in a variety of ways, and, consequently, it often causes confusion and miscommunication. In the industrialized world it is generally used to refer to formal, temporary placements made by the State with families that are trained, monitored and compensated at some level. In many developing countries, however, fostering is kinship care or other placement with a family, the objective(s) of which may include the care of the child, the child’s access to education, and/or the child’s doing some type of work for the foster family.

Such care is informal and unregulated by the State. Foster care can also be understood as formal care, typically provided by adults who are not related to the child, but may include formalized kinship care. It is usually for a limited period until the child can return home or move into a more permanent placement such as adoption.

In emergency situations, such as armed conflict, informal fostering often occurs spontaneously when a family takes in an unaccompanied child. Also, in some emergency situations, agencies have organized a quasi-formal type of foster care to ensure immediate, family-based care for unaccompanied children. Such foster care should be formally arranged by the local authority or child protection organisation and include assessing each child’s best interests; screening, training, and monitoring of caretakers; and planning for the longer term needs of each child.

Foster care can provide the advantages of family-based care within a child’s own community. In some situations, particularly spontaneous care initiated during an emergency, it can become de facto adoption in settings where State child protection services and formalization of care arrangements are very limited or do not exist.

Foster care plays an important role in a situation where a child’s own family is not providing adequately for his or her care. It can provide protection and care for the child while the family situation is improved, with the eventual aim of family reunification.

It is vital that children are provided opportunities to express their wishes and concerns regarding with whom they live and have contact. The appointment of a legal guardian is a means of ensuring their opinions are taken into account.

Foster caretakers often receive support to meet the child’s needs and prevent placement breakdown. This may include parenting guidance and access to basic services for the child. Payment for care requires thoughtful consideration and should not encourage the separation of children from their families, or the use of a child for financial gain. All placements should be regulated to ensure the standards of care protect the child and encourage her development.

This body of literature provides examples from around the world of spontaneous, informal and formal fostering. It includes guidance on standards of care and child care policy.

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Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare and Foster Care Settings: Promoting Paternal Contributions to the Safety, Permanency, and Well-being of Children and Families

Justin S. Harty, Aaron Banman , 01 Nov 2022

This chapter in the book "Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare and Foster Care Settings: Promoting Paternal Contributions to the Safety, Permanency, and Well-being of Children and Families" explores research on father engagement in child welfare services in the U.S., including studies on engagement activities, associations with child welfare outcomes, and barriers to engagement with the aim of assisting social workers and child welfare caseworkers in more fully engaging fathers.

The Concept of Family: Perspectives of Spanish Young People in Foster Care

Judite Ie, 01 Nov 2022

This article employs concepts from family sociology to explore how ‘family’ is conceptualised in 14 life narratives of young people in foster care in Spain.

Guaranteeing Child Fostering and Parental Rights in Nigeria: Law and Policy Perspectives

Wilson Diriwari, 01 Nov 2022

This article examines the practice of customary child fostering in Nigeria and the state of parental rights in such a situation. The significance of the practice and its impact in mostly Nigerian traditional communities raises the question of its regulation in order to safeguard children's rights as well as parental rights.

Transition Case Study: Alliance For Children Everywhere Zambia

Better Care Network, Alliance for Children Everywhere, 06 Oct 2022

Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) Zambia is a US-funded organization that transitioned from providing residential care in Zambia to pioneering family-based care, including foster care, and supporting other residential care service providers to transition. With important links to the Zambian government, ACE Zambia has been a key actor in supporting the development of policies, programs and guidelines that are now utilized across the country.

The Outcome of Children Placed in a Welfare Center or Foster Care Before the Age of 4: Prognostic Factors

A. Cailliez, P. Duverger, M. Rozé, D. Rousseau, E. Riquin, 30 Sep 2022

This qualitative study designed to identify potential prognostic factors relating to the outcome of children placed in a welfare center or foster care before the age of 4 years was based on the analysis of 34 case histories of children placed in a welfare center or foster care in Angers.

L'efficacité du Telephone Portable Comme Outil de Signalement et de Rétroaction pour les Enfant dans les Familles d'acceuil en Gambia: Succés, Enjeaux et Recommandations

Save the Children Spain, 30 Sep 2022

Save the Children a développé ce programme d'apprentissage afin d'évaluer l'utilisation des téléphones portables comme mécanismes d'information et de rétroaction pour les enfants placés en Gambie et de déterminer s'il est efficace et sécurisé.

The Effectiveness of Providing Foster Care in Gambia with Cell Phones as a Reporting and Feedback Mechanism: Successes, Challenges and Recommendations

Save the Children Spain, 30 Sep 2022

Save the Children has developed this learning agenda in order to assess the use of cell phones as information and feedback mechanisms for foster children in Gambia and to determine whether it is effective and secure.

Youth at the Intersection of Parental Incarceration and Foster Care: Examining Prevalence, Disparities, and Mental Health

Luke Muentner, Katie J. Stone, Laurel Davis, Rebecca Shlafer, 28 Sep 2022

This U.S.-based study details the prevalence of youth at the intersection of parental incarceration and foster care, their demographic characteristics, and heterogeneity in their mental health.

Child Abuse and Neglect - The International Journal

Attachment of Young Foster Children

Delphine West, Laura Gypen, Johan Vanderfaeillie, 23 Sep 2022

Family foster care is the option of choice in case of out-of-home placements in Flanders, Belgium, resulting in rising numbers of family foster care placements. As a number of the foster children experienced traumatic events and all of them were separated from their primary caregivers, concerns can be raised about the quality of attachment between foster children and their foster carers. In this study, the attachment behavior was scored by the foster mothers on the Attachment Insecurity Screening Index.

Is Contact with Birth Parents Beneficial to Children in Non-Kinship Foster Care? A Scoping Review of the Evidence

Kevin J. Ruiz-Romero, María D.Salas Francisco, Javier Fernández-Baena, Lucía González-Pasarín, 18 Sep 2022

In this scoping review the authors analyze the findings of studies conducted over the past two decades that have specifically examined face-to-face contact with birth parents for children in non-kinship foster care, with the goal of determining more clearly when it may contribute positively to the child's well-being. The review involved a search of nine electronic databases in Spain, the U.S., Portugal, and the UK.