What do foster families and social workers think about children’s contact with birth parents? A focus group analysis by Fuentes, M. J., Bernedo, I. M., Salas, M. D., & García-Martín, M. A.
The study analyses the perceptions of both the foster families and social workers on the critical subject of contact visits by birth parents. The article addresses the concerns raised over the ongoing debate of whether birth relatives should be allowed to visit children placed in the foster homes and maintain contact over time. The lack of coordination between foster families and social workers has contributed to a further drift between the two parties thus further worsening the ineffectiveness of the system. Many critics may argue that the continued contact with the birth parents may impact the relationship between foster parents and children.
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The views of birth families regarding access visits in foster care by García-Martín, M. Á., Fuentes, M. J., Bernedo, I. M., & Salas, M. D.
García-Martín, Fuentes, Bernedo, & Salas (2018) highlight the presumptions and personal takes of various relevant parties on the right of birth families to visit the children in their foster homes. Divergent views have been expressed regarding the topic and, as a result, there have been conflicting sentiments on the issue. The study is important because it reveals both the foster family and the birth family’s take on access visits. While a majority may be inclined to think that access visits are healthy for the children, critics have vocally argued against the previous position saying that it is detrimental to the development of a viable relationship between the children and the foster family.
Foster children’s behavioral development and foster parent stress: testing a transactional model by Goemans, A., Geel, M. V., & Vedder, P.
The study explains how various foster parents’ stress implicates the lives of foster children. Foster parents were discovered by research to be experiencing difficulty when regulating the behavioral changes of the children which led to miscommunication. The article is relevant to this study because it provides insight into the intricate situation between foster parents and foster children concerning adaptation and behavioral change. A transactional model would help in discerning the how nature and nurturing integrates in relation to the development of both negative and positive attributes of children in newly placed foster home. The unification of foster children and families bring together individuals with varying characters which may hinder the connection amongst members of the family.
Megahead, H. A, & Soliday, E. (2013). Developing a Conceptual Framework of Foster Family Placement. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 24(1), 48-63.
The research explains the family adjustment and adaptation response (FAAR) model in foster family placement. The study delves in the advantages and disadvantages of the model in the process of placement. The FAAR model is critical in ensuring that foster families receive support from the system and are able to adequately handle various behavioral transitions amongst the children and also parents. Many foster homes experience stress related to adjustment issues. The FAAR model focuses on three aspects of the foster care namely, the individual, the family, and society. The model helps in balancing crisis and opportunities in the families.
Waid, J., Kothari, B. H., Bank, L., & McBeath, B. (2016). Foster care placement change: The role of family dynamics and household composition. Children and Youth Services Review , 68 , 44-50. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.06.024
The article elaborates on the relevance of sibling co-placement and the impact it has especially on teenagers. Siblings having being brought up together in foster homes face difficulty when placed in various foster homes. The study has helped the discipline in understanding the psychological needs of siblings in foster care and how separation affects their lives. The placement process may last for days due to its complicated nature and should thus be conventionally done.
Part 2
The lack of support for foster families and children has become one of the greatest challenges facing the foster care system; various stakeholders including the society are mandated to provide not only financial gain but also moral support. Following extensive research, it has been determined that one of the most pertinent models that may enhance placement and provide a safe and supportive environment for foster care is the FAAR framework.
Part 3
For research purposes, I have taken into consideration a few individuals who according to my personal assessment prove to be resourceful in the subject matter. Foster care, unlike common belief, is not a simple process especially because it involves the lives of individuals. After thorough scrutiny, I decided to approach two candidates, a community social worker, and a placement officer who works with one of the most recognized foster care agencies in the district. Additionally, I also opted to engage a pediatric doctor for his professional advice especially on health and mental issues affecting children under foster care.
The three individuals all had different approaches to the subject and offered intriguing information that may prove useful to the discipline. The doctor gave his opinions based on the interaction and personal relationship with some of his patients. As a doctor who specifies on children, he pointed out that the foster care system though intends to benefit the society in some instances ends up doing more harm instead. The previous assertion was a response to my question of sibling separation in the foster care system. Although he did not dwell on the technical issues in foster care, the doctor expressed his thoughts towards the impact that placement and visitation by birth families have on the children.
I am looking forward to my meeting with the social worker and the placement officer. These two individuals may be in a better position to explain some of the complicated notches of the system and give their personal and professional experiences. Thus, I expect dissimilar sentiments from all the three individuals since they have different perspectives and encounter with the foster care system. I intend to understand the various shortcomings of the system and the various recommendations on how to improve it. The type of individuals I selected have a certain relation to the system professionally because I expect to gather relevant and efficient information regarding the placement in foster homes, visitation of birth families, and the lack of support as a major setback for the system. All the candidates chosen seem to be better equipped at providing information that may be applied to solve the various issues within the system.
References
Fuentes, M. J., Bernedo, I. M., Salas, M. D., & García-Martín, M. A. (2018). What do foster families and social workers think about children’s contact with birth parents? A focus group analysis. International Social Work , 002087281877547. doi:10.1177/0020872818775475
García-Martín, M. Á., Fuentes, M. J., Bernedo, I. M., & Salas, M. D. (2018). The views of birth families regarding access visits in foster care. Journal of Social Work , 146801731875739. doi:10.1177/1468017318757399
Goemans, A., Geel, M. V., & Vedder, P. (2017). Foster children’s behavioral development and foster parent stress: testing a transactional model. Journal of Child and Family Studies , 27 (3), 990-1001. doi:10.1007/s10826-017-0941-z
Megahead, H. A., & Soliday, E. (2013). Developing a Conceptual Framework of Foster Family Placement. Journal of Family Psychotherapy , 24 (1), 48-63. doi:10.1080/08975353.2013.762868
Waid, J., Kothari, B. H., Bank, L., & McBeath, B. (2016). Foster care placement change: The role of family dynamics and household composition. Children and Youth Services Review , 68 , 44-50. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.06.024
