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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Final Report for Evaluation of Fostering Wellbeing Programme

Dr Alyson Rees, Dr Nina Maxwell, Dr Jillian Grey, Dr Cindy Corliss, Anya Barton, Dr Asma Khan, Dr Chloe O’Donnell, & Dr Victoria Silverwood - Cardiff University, CASCADE, The Fostering Network, 2019

This report presents findings and recommendations from an evaluation of the Fostering Wellbeing pilot initiative devised by The Fostering Network that was trialled in Cwm Taf, Wales.

Permanency with lifelong connections: Casework practices to support positive relationships between carer and birth families

Wright, Amy Conley; Collings, Susan - Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, 2019

In Australia, the emerging model of child welfare policy and practice emphasises 'permanency and lifelong connections with birth families'.

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The Provision of Foster Care for Unaccompanied Migrant Children: Some considerations

Dr. Muireann Ní Raghallaigh - FORUM, 2019

This article is written as part of the FORUM project (FOR Unaccompanied Minors: transfer of knowledge for professionals to increase foster care), an EU funded project which sought to enhance the capacity of professionals to provide quality foster care for unaccompanied migrant children, primarily through the transfer of knowledge. The article aims to contribute to this transfer of knowledge by bringing together literature which is of relevance to professionals developing or enhancing foster care services for unaccompanied migrant children.

30 Days to Family Study: Achieving Results for Children, Families, and Child Welfare

Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, 2019

This brief from the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition in the United States provides an overview of the 30 Days to Family® program in the U.S. state of Missouri, an intense, short-term intervention developed by the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition to: 1) increase the number of children placed with relatives/kin at the time they enter the foster care system; and 2) ensure natural and community supports are in place to promote stability for the child.

Looked After Children/Children in Care: Annual Report

Kathryn Higgins, Dr Melanie Bracewell, Dr Vicki Walker, 2019

This report presents a summary of key achievements and future plans for Nottinghamshire County CCGs (excluding Bassetlaw) and Nottingham City CCG in the UK to fulfil their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of looked after children

Factors Affecting Educational and Vocational Plans of Foster Care Charges

Marzena Ruszkowska & Józefa Matejek - Society. Integration. Education. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 2019

In this study, the authors analyzed the literature on foster care in Poland and conducted a narrative questionnaire with an educator who simultaneously holds the responsibility for teaching youth in foster care autonomy in order to identify factors that affect educational and vocational plans that foster care charges have.

Why we decided to transition from residential to family-based care

Laura Horvath, Mohamed Nabieu and Melody Curtiss - Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 2019

This paper from the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care outlines the Child Rescue Centre's process of transitioning from residential care to family-based care in Sierra Leone.

Institutionalised criminalisation : black and minority ethnic children and looked after children in the youth justice system in England and Wales

Hunter, K. E. - University of Liverpool, 2019

This thesis is concerned with the overrepresentation of black and minority ethnic (BME) children and looked after children, in the youth justice system in general and the secure state in particular, in England and Wales.

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Using the Deaf Community as an Alternative Treatment Strategy: Developing Deaf Treatment Foster Homes

Stephen H. Hamerdinger & Daniel Murphy - JADARA, 2019

This article gives specific information on a program in Missouri, USA that took the emerging therapeutic foster family approach and added a novel component: training deaf families to become therapeutic foster parents, including how it was established, what problems arose, and what solutions were tried.

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Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children in Kenya (2014): A User-friendly Handbook

Department of Children's Services - Republic of Kenya, 2019

This handbook is a key tool for supporting care reform in Kenya, promoting family-based alternative care for children, and moving away from institutional care.