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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. Additionally, international research regarding associated factors with attachment quality is scarce and inconclusive and to our knowledge, Flemish research into this matter was non-existent. The sample of…
Abstract
Background:
Foster children often experience school problems and perform less well than average. This may result in failed school careers and compromised future career paths. Nonetheless, few studies have focused on the perspective of foster children regarding education.
Method:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 foster children (M = 14 years, range = 12–18 years) placed in long-term family foster care about their experiences regarding “school.”
Results:
A thematic analysis…
Abstract
Self-determination theory (SDT) has been applied to several domains. SDT-research in parenting focuses on parents’ perception of satisfaction or frustration of basic psychological needs (BPN) of autonomy, competence and relatedness. BPN satisfaction is considered a necessary condition for parenting high on autonomy support, structure and involvement, which in turn promotes emotional, behavioural and academic functioning of children. Although many studies supported the SDT-model in parenting situations, SDT has not been investigated in foster care. This study aims at examining if…
Abstract
European societies struggle with the question of how to deal best with, and organize care for, those children who, for various reasons, need to be placed out of their home. In an attempt to protect these children, states organize different forms of care. Under the influence of testimonies of abuse and neglect, the image of residential care has become tainted and the placement of looked‐after children in foster families has become increasingly favoured. This evolution towards a manifest choice for foster care is defended as being more in “the interests of the child.” However, the “…
Abstract
Foster children often had negative experiences in the past, which can contribute to attachment problems. In their meta-analysis, van den Dries et al. found that foster children were more often disorganized attached when compared to the general population. It is to be expected that the quality of attachment between the foster children and their foster parents is related to various factors. However, research into which factors are associated with the development of secure attachment is scarce. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, a…
Abstract
In Flanders, family foster care is increasingly the option of choice when out-of-home care is needed. However, foster care is a complex and challenging intervention and meeting all expectations by foster parents is frequently hampered by the severity of the mental health problems of foster children and conflicts with birth parents. Moreover, these problems result in high support needs and low satisfaction of foster carers, ultimately leading to placement disruption. This study aims at identifying characteristics of foster children, foster parents and foster placements associated…
Abstract
Foster care is an important concept in our society and is preferred over other institutional care. However, including a foster child in the family, brings consequences to the whole family, including the birth children. Fostering is known to come with both positive as negative effects for birth children and parental concerns for the wellbeing of birth children often contribute to foster care breakdown. The aim of this study is to explore foster child characteristics and the acceptance of foster children, by birth children and to compare mothers’ perceptions to birth children’s own…
Abstract
This study aimed at investigating the incidence of placement breakdown in Flemish family foster care (Dutch speaking part of Belgium) for unaccompanied children (UC), and to explore the association of breakdown with foster child, foster family and case characteristics. Data regarding breakdown in family foster care for UC are scarce and non-existing for Flanders. Case files of 107 UC who were placed in family foster care were analyzed. After one year 19 placements (17.8%) had terminated: 13 placements broke down (12.2%) and 6 placements ended positively (5.6%). Conflicts between…
Abstract
This article describes the results of a narrative literature review on empirical research examining the outcomes and/or experiences of unaccompanied refugee minors in family foster care. The limited research, in which only 17 references were identified, suggests that family foster care is an important type of care for this group and is associated with better health and psychosocial outcomes compared to other types of care. Nevertheless, breakdown of family foster care placements is a cause for concern. Four groups of factors that influence the course of family foster care…
Abstract
Concept mapping was used to identify characteristics of successful foster families in Flanders (Dutch speaking part of Belgium). A sample of 97 (out of 505) foster care workers from all foster care agencies were asked to answer in writing the question: “What characteristics does a successful foster family have?” Sixty unique characteristics were identified by three researchers. In a second phase, 50 foster care workers individually grouped together the statements that according to them covered the same topic. Furthermore, they were asked to indicate the degree of importance of…