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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A Systematic Review of Factors Needed for Successful Foster Placements: Perspectives from Children and Foster Parents

Helen Saarnik - Child & Youth Services, 21 May 2021

This systematic review explores foster children’s and foster parents’ perceptions of factors related to a successful placement.

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Structured well-being assessments in public child welfare: Observations across two states

Crystal Collins-Camargo, Jessica Strolin-Goltzman, A. Nathan Verbist, Alison Krompf, Becky F. Antle - Developmental Child Welfare, 05 May 2021

In this paper, authors demonstrate how a structured functional well-being assessment can be used with the custody population to promote an understanding of behavioral health needs, inform case planning, and measure functional improvement over time.

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How do foster children placed in long-term family foster care experience school?

Frank Van Holen, Lisa Van Hove, Ann Clé, Camille Verheyden, Johan Vanderfaeillie - Developmental Child Welfare, 05 May 2021

For this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 foster children placed in long-term family foster care about their experiences regarding “school.”

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Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Foster Care: An Evidence-Based Theoretical Conceptual Model of Disproportionality and Psychological Comorbidities

Dana M. Prince, Meagan Ray-Novak, Braveheart Gillani, Emily Peterson - Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 04 May 2021

This article provides an empirically grounded conceptual–theoretical model of disproportionate representation and burden of psychological comorbidities experienced by sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) in the foster care system in the US.

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The quality and developmental pathways in sibling relationships: A qualitative study of Norwegian children admitted to child welfare service care

Wenche Hovland, Sarah Hean - Child & Family Social Work, 04 May 2021

This paper explores young people's perceptions of changes in the quality of sibling relationships and the pathways relationships follow during the transition from the biological family into care.

Predicting youth at high risk of aging out of foster care using machine learning methods

Eunhye Ahn, Yolanda Gil, Emily Putnam-Hornstein - Child Abuse & Neglect, 02 May 2021

The purpose of this study was to present an illustrative test of whether an algorithmic decision aid could be used to identify youth at risk of exiting foster care without permanency.

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Reconstructing Children’s Rights Conversation #2: Confronting Colonialism, Racism and Patriarchy in Child Welfare and Child Rights Programming

CPC Learning Network, 01 May 2021

The goal of the Reconstructing Children’s Rights Institute is to raise awareness and recognition of how racism, patriarchy, and power permeate the international child rights and child protection field. Building on Conversation #1, this session expands our political imagination by delving deeper into the international children’s rights and child protection space.

Mental health, adverse life events and health service use among Norwegian youth in the child welfare system: Results from a population-based study

Sondre Aasen Nilsen, Kristin Gärtner Askeland, Dora Poni Joseph Loro, Anette Christine Iversen, Karen J. Skaale Havnen, Tormod Bøe, Ove Heradstveit - Child & Family Social Work, 01 May 2021

This study aimed to compare mental health problems and health service use among adolescents receiving in-home services (IHS), living in foster care (FC) and general population youth (GP).

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Prakas on Procedures to Implement Kinship Care and Foster Care

Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) - Kingdom of Cambodia, 01 May 2021

This Prakas was drafted in accordance with Cambodia’s policies, standards and regulations to enable the implementation of kinship care and foster care. The Goal of the Prakas is to ensure the best interests of the child and protect the basic rights of the child separated from his/her biological parents and receiving kinship or foster care, so that they are safe and thriving in a warm, loving and happy family environment.

Khmer: Prakas on Procedures to Implement Kinship Care and Foster Care

Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) - Kingdom of Cambodia, 01 May 2021

The Goal of the Prakas is to ensure the best interests of the child and protect the basic rights of the child separated from his/her biological parents and receiving kinship or foster care, so that they are safe and thriving in a warm, loving and happy family environment.