This news article explores how a new demographic study reveals that the likelihood of Finnish children experiencing out-of-home care at least once during childhood has doubled—rising to an estimated 6% in 2020, compared to about 3% in 1993—largely driven by an increase in residential care placements.

This study explored wellbeing among Swedish adolescents with and without out-of-home care experience, using cluster analysis of 10 wellbeing indicators. It found two distinct groups—one with higher wellbeing and one with lower wellbeing—with girls, unemployed youth, and those with care experience more likely to fall into the reduced wellbeing cluster.

Using nationwide register data from Finland (1980–2020), this study shows that the lifetime risk of children entering out-of-home care more than doubled, with a notable rise in residential care placements. At the same time, the average duration of care shortened, and the likelihood of children returning home before age 18 increased significantly.

This report exposes the severe harm temporary accommodation inflicts on children’s health, education, and wellbeing, with over 160,000 affected across England and rising numbers in London, particularly Southwark. It calls for urgent reforms—including stronger accountability, better inter-agency coordination, and dedicated support roles—to protect children’s rights and prevent lasting damage.

This article examines how foster parents in Sweden navigate and reproduce public suspicions about financial compensation, drawing on texts and interviews from a three-year research project. While payments are essential for recruitment amid a shortage of foster families, foster parents face sensitivity, suspicion, and blame, leading them to develop strategies to deflect questions and avoid stigma.

This article explores how a new initiative launched in July 2025 in Plymouth, U.K. aims to transition children in residential care into nurturing family-based environments like foster or kinship care.

Children's Homes Association warns 'inexperienced providers' have driven a 15% rise in number of registered homes from 2024-25 and that children are being placed in residential care inappropriately due to fostering shortage.

This study reanalyzes interviews with 20 children in Ireland to explore their perspectives on participation in child protection processes involving their families. Findings show that while children often shared adult concerns, they viewed participation differently—particularly regarding risk, safety, stigma, and the need for ongoing dialogue—highlighting the importance of more child-centred approaches in practice.

This report makes a series of recommendations on issues affecting all types of care, including foster care, adoption, kinship care, children’s homes, and support for disabled children in the UK.

The UK Government has announced the roll out of up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs in England to provide greater integrated support for families with children under five, including help with housing issues, early development, wellbeing and at