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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Evaluation of the Treatment and Care for Kids Program (TrACK)

Lynne McPherson, Glory Gatwiri and Nadine Cameron - Southern Cross University and Australian Childhood Foundation, 2018

The Treatment and Care for Kids (TrACK) program is a therapeutic home-based care program providing intensive intervention for children and young people with complex needs in Australia. The findings of this evaluation demonstrate that TrACK produces tangible and lasting results for children.

Exploring outcomes for young people who have experienced out-of-home care

Fernando Lima, Miriam Maclean, Melissa O’Donnell - Telethon Kids Institute, 2018

For this study, physical and mental health, school achievement, justice involvement and child protection contact were explored for three cohorts of children in Australia born between 1 January 1990 and 30 June 1995.

Emerging Practice of Alternative Care for Children in Cambodia Research Findings - Summary Report

Family Care First (FCF) - USAID, Save the Children, Holt International, Department of Social Work of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, 2018

Family Care First (FCF) supported the study and documentation of existing reintegration and alternative family care services provided by seven implementing partners in Cambodia. This brief includes an outline of key findings of the study and concludes with recommendations based on those findings.

DOVCU Learning Brief 2: The effect of DOVCU’s integrated package of services on reintegrating children and families

ChildFund International, 2018

This learning brief analyzes quantitative data from the second of the “Deinstitutionalization of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Uganda” (DOVCU) project’s stated objectives: examining the extent to which DOVCU project interventions decrease vulnerabilities for reintegrating children and their families.

Care for Unaccompanied Children in Croatia: The Roles and Experiences of Special Guardians

Drago Župarić-Iljić & Dubravka Mlinarić - Revija Za Sociologiju, 2018

Special guardians have been tasked with safeguarding the rights of unaccompanied minors in Croatia and providing general assistance within the system of care during their stay and/or during the status recognition procedure. The authors of this study discussed the experiences of practitioners in the field and some of the most important challenges they are facing within the special guardianship system.

Variability in Developmental Outcomes of Foster Children: Implications for Research and Practice

Anouk Goemans, Mitch van Geel and Paul Vedder - Children Australia, 2018

This article focuses on the variability in developmental outcomes of foster children and the implications for foster care research and practice.

Special Issue of the International Journal of Longitudinal and Life Course Studies: Outcomes of children raised in out-of-home care

Longitudinal and Life Course Studies: International Journal, 2018

The aim of this special issue of the International Journal of Longitudinal and Life Course Studies is to examine the outcomes of children who were raised for part of their childhood in out-of-home care, including in foster care and institutions.

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From aspiration to opportunity: Developing Independence in out-of-home care

Marion Coddou & Joseph Borlagdan - The Brotherhood of St Laurence, 2018

The report presents an evaluation of the second stage of the the Developing Independence (DI) in Out-of-home care (OOHC) pilot in Melbourne, Australia.

Pre-School to Post-Secondary Educational Outcomes of Young People in Care in Ontario (Canada)

Flynn, Robert J.; Miller, Meagan; Greenberg, Barbara; Michael, Erik; Vincent, Cynthia - University of Ottowa, 2018

This paper identifies key educational outcomes among young people in care in Ontario (Canada) of pre-school, elementary, secondary, and post-secondary age.

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Concurrent Planning for Timely Permanence

Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2018

This bulletin for professionals explores concurrent planning, which is an approach that seeks to reduce the amount of time children spend in foster care by considering all reasonable permanency options the moment a child enters the system.