The long-term correlates of family foster care

Background: Foster children often experience school problems and perform less well than average. This may result in failed school careers and compromised future career paths. Nonetheless, few studies have focused on the perspective of foster children regarding education. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 foster children (M = 14 years, range = 12–18 years) placed in long-term family foster care about their experiences regarding “school.” Results: A thematic analysis distinguished four main themes: (1) the importance of school for foster children; (2) the impact of the foster care placement on the school performance (3) support foster children receive with regard to their functioning and performance at school; and (4) the fear of stigmatization. Discussion: Foster children attach a great importance to school and receive support from different persons. Yet, many foster children are confronted with school difficulties, such as bullying, hindered concentration, and negative reactions to being placed in foster care. Interventions should be developed to support this group and improve their performances. Furthermore, actors who get in touch with foster children should be better acquainted with foster care.

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A European Survey of the Number and Characteristics of Children Less than Three Years Old in Residential Care at Risk of Harm

Adoption & Fostering ◽

10.1177/030857590502900405 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 23-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Kevin Browne

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Foster Care ◽

Young Children ◽

Residential Care ◽

Normal Brain ◽

Medical Problems ◽

Attachment Disorder ◽

Family Foster Care ◽

Emergency Measure

Research evidence increasingly suggests that young children in residential care without parents are at risk of harm in terms of attachment disorder, developmental delay and normal brain development. This damage caused by early privation of parenting has been shown to have long-term consequences. Kevin Browne and colleagues* report on a survey of 33 European countries that was conducted to identify the number and characteristics of children aged less than three years placed in residential care without their parents for more than three months during the year ending 31 December 2003. Ministries of Health in Europe were asked for official data. For the 31 countries who responded it was estimated that 23,099 children (11.2 per 10,000) aged less than three years were living in institutions. There was great variation between countries for the proportion of young children in institutions and family foster care. Although residential care was shown to cost on average three times as much as foster care, 33 per cent of countries had more young children in institutions than fostered. Those countries with lower GDP and health expenditure had larger proportions of young children in institutions associated mainly with abandonment, disability and medical problems. Only four per cent of children were biological orphans with deceased parents. It is recommended that no child less than three years should be placed in residential care without a parent. Even when high-quality institutions are used as an emergency measure, research has suggested that a child should be moved into family foster care as soon as possible.

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Children placed in long-term family foster care: A longitudinal study into the development of problem behavior and associated factors

Children and Youth Services Review ◽

10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.12.012 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 587-593 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Johan Vanderfaeillie ◽

Frank Van Holen ◽

Femke Vanschoonlandt ◽

Marijke Robberechts ◽

Tim Stroobants

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Foster Care ◽

Problem Behavior ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Family Foster Care

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Long-term effects of pre-adoptive risk on emotional and behavioral functioning in children adopted from foster care

Child Abuse & Neglect ◽

10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105031 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105031

Author(s):

Austin J. Blake ◽

Matthew Ruderman ◽

Jill M. Waterman ◽

Audra K. Langley

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Behavioral Functioning ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Emotional And Behavioral Functioning

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A Sense of Belonging: Meanings of Family and Home in Long-Term Foster Care

The British Journal of Social Work ◽

10.1093/bjsw/bcs177 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 955-971 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

N. Biehal

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Sense Of Belonging

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Effects of Enhanced Foster Care on the Long-term Physical and Mental Health of Foster Care Alumni

Yearbook of Psychiatry and Applied Mental Health ◽

10.1016/s0084-3970(08)79276-4 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2009 ◽

pp. 63-64

Author(s):

A. Mack

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Foster Care ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Foster Care Alumni

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On the bright side: Young people’s most positive memories of family foster care

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1359104520978691 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135910452097869

Author(s):

Anne Steenbakkers ◽

Steffie van der Steen ◽

Hans Grietens

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Young People ◽

Family Environment ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Normal Family ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Family Foster Care ◽

Continuous Support ◽

Positive Memories ◽

Negative Memories

This study explored what contributes to successful family foster care from the perspective of young people by asking them about their most positive memory of family foster care. Forty-four Dutch adolescents and young adults (aged 16–28) participated in this study and shared their most positive memory in a short interview. Their answers were qualitatively analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, supplemented with an analysis of the structure of their memories. The thematic analysis resulted in the themes Belongingness, Receiving support, Normal family life, It is better than before, and Seeing yourself grow. The structural analysis showed that young people both shared memories related to specific events, as well as memories that portrayed how they felt for a prolonged period of time. In addition, young people were inclined to share negative memories alongside the positive memories. These results highlight that, in order to build a sense of belonging, it is important that of foster parents create a normal family environment for foster children and provide continuous support. Moreover, the negative memories shared by participants are discussed in light of a bias resulting from earlier traumatic experiences.

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