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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Making parents pay: The unintended consequences of charging parents for foster care

Maria Cancian, Steven T. Cook, Mai Seki and Lynn Wimer - Children and Youth Services Review, 12 Oct 2016

This study examines whether requiring parents to pay child support to offset the costs of foster care delays children's permanent placement, whether through reunification with a parent, adoption, or guardianship.

Foster Care Outcomes for Children With Intellectual Disability

Slayter, Elspeth M - American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 01 Oct 2016

This article is a discussion of the state of foster care for children with disabilities. This study explores three areas related to foster care outcomes: 1) previous disrupted or dissolved adoptions among youth with and without intellectual disabilities; 2) demographic or disability related disparities of youth with intellectual disabilities who were and were not discharged from care; and 3) foster care outcomes of youth with and without intellectual disabilities.

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Children looked after in England including adoption: 2015 to 2016

UK Department for Education, 29 Sep 2016

This statistical release provides information about looked after children in England for the year ending 31 March 2016, including where they are placed, their legal status, the numbers starting and ceasing to be looked after, and the numbers who go missing or are away from their placement without authorisation.

Associations Between Maltreatment History and Severity of Substance Use Behavior in Youth in Foster Care

Joy Gabrielli, Yo Jackson, Shaquanna Brown, 21 Sep 2016

The present study offers examination of the association between severity and chronicity of maltreatment history and SU in youth in foster care.

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Three sides to a foster care story: An examination of the lived experiences of young adults, their foster care case record, and the space in between

Nancy Rolock, 15 Sep 2016

This study used a mixed-methods multiphase, iterative process to illuminate the congruencies and incongruencies between the young adults' accounts of their foster care experiences and the legalistic, system-focused view of their experiences. This study highlights the limitations of administrative data as the primary source for evaluating systems, assessing child well-being, and for understanding child welfare outcomes.

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Three sides to a foster care story: An examination of the lived experiences of young adults, their foster care case record, and the space in between

Nancy Rolock and Alfred G Pérez - Qualitative Social Work, 15 Sep 2016

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Decision-making around psychotropic medications for children in foster care: Perspectives from Foster Parents

Erin R. Barnett PhD, Elizabeth A. Boucher MPH, Katrin Neubacher PsyD, Elizabeth A. Carpenter-Song PhD - Children and Youth Services Review, 14 Sep 2016

This paper discusses the study of foster parent perspectives on decision-making relevant to the use of psychotropics with children in foster care.

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Participants’ Satisfaction With Family Involvement Meetings: Implications for Child Welfare Practice

Haksoon Ahn, Samantha Hartzel, Terry Shaw - Research on Social Work Practice, 07 Sep 2016

This study evaluates one mid-Atlantic state’s implementation of a FGDM called family involvement meetings (FIMs) to improve family strengths and their active engagement in the service planning process.

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A better way to help vulnerable children and families

Orrin G. Hatch, Ron Wyden, Kevin Brady and Sander M. Levin - The Washington Post, 05 Sep 2016

This opinion piece from the Washington Post discusses how working to keep children with their families is a better option

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Performance Audit of the Department of Children and Family Services Placement of Children (Illinois, US)

Frank J. Mautino - Auditor General - Illinois, 01 Sep 2016

This document reports on the status of children who remain in psychiatric hospitals, emergency shelters, and detention facilities in Illinois, US. In 2015, there were approximately 168 children who were hospitalized beyond medical necessity; 380 children who remained in emergency shelter beyond 30 days, and the audit reported “no available data” on children who remained in a detention facility solely because placement cannot be located.