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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The Reflective Fostering Programme: background and development of a new approach

Sheila Redfern, Sally Wood, Dana Lassri, Antonella Cirasola, Grace West, Chloe Austerberry, Patrick Luyten, Peter Fonagy, Nick Midgley - Adoption & Fostering, 03 Sep 2018

This article sets out the rationale for the Reflective Fostering Programme (RFP), outlines its key elements and concludes by indicating future service implementation and a planned feasibility study examining this approach.

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‘To another’s house’: the experiences of Muslim young people in foster care

David Pitcher & Shabana Jaffar - Adoption & Fostering, 03 Sep 2018

This article describes the experiences of Muslim children in care in the UK and critically examines how their situation matches the definitions of good practice in agencies and professionals seeking to help them.

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Continuities and discontinuities in family foster care: An introduction

Séverine Euillet, Daniela Reimer, Amélie Turlais and Erik J. Knorth - International Journal of Child and Family Welfare, 01 Sep 2018

The ninth International Foster Care Research Network Conference was held in September 2017 in Paris (France) on the theme ‘Continuity and disruption in foster care’. A selection of the presentations there were rewritten into a paper as part of this special issue.

Raising the Children of the Opioid Epidemic: Solutions and Support for Grandfamilies

Generations United, 01 Sep 2018

This report from Generations United provides data on the opioid crisis in the US, and its impact on grandfamilies, and offers policy and program recommendations related to recently passed legislation - the Family First Prevention Services Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act.

Continuities and discontinuities in family foster care

Euillet, Séverine Reimer, Daniela Turlais, Amélie Knorth, Erik J , 01 Sep 2018

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“You Miss So Much When You’re Gone”: The Lasting Harm of Jailing Mothers Before Trial in Oklahoma

Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 01 Sep 2018

Drawing from more than 160 interviews with jailed and formerly jailed mothers, substitute caregivers, children, attorneys, service providers, advocates, jail officials, and child welfare employees, this report shows how pretrial detention can snowball into neverending family separation.

Family Structures, Family Relationship, and Children's Perceptions of Life Satisfaction

Hayles, Olivia; Xu, Lihua; Edwards, Oliver W. - School Psychology Forum, 01 Sep 2018

This study examines family structures and children's perceptions regarding family connectedness and perceived life satisfaction (LS) using a nationally representative U.S. sample of 926 students in grades 7–10.

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Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Children: A Formative Evaluation of UNICEF’S Child Protection Programme in Cambodia Volume 1

Professor Dame Carolyn Hamilton, Kara Apland, Elizabeth Yarrow & Dr Anna Mackin, with support provided by Soksan Tem & Phally Keo, on behalf of Coram International - UNICEF Cambodia, 01 Sep 2018

The objective of this evaluation was to provide evidence that can help strengthen performance and accountability with UNICEF’s work with the Royal Government of Cambodia and the myriad other authorities and organizations involved in child protection.

Volume 2: Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Children: A Formative Evaluation of UNICEF’S Child Protection Programme in Cambodia

Professor Dame Carolyn Hamilton, Kara Apland, Elizabeth Yarrow & Dr Anna Mackin, with support provided by Soksan Tem & Phally Keo, on behalf of Coram International - UNICEF Cambodia, 01 Sep 2018

This second volume of Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Children: A Formative Evaluation of UNICEF’s Child Protection Programme in Cambodia includes the annexes referred to in the first volume.

The Construction of Friendship for Looked After Children

Christine May - University of Surrey, 01 Sep 2018

This thesis study aimed to explore what Looked After Children (LAC) value in their friendships in order to understand what support may help them gain the maximum benefits from these relationships.

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