Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T06:42:24.346Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Caring for children who care: Acknowledging the importance of the natural children of foster parents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Lynette Tadros
Lynette Tadros*
Affiliation:
Out-of-home Care, Wesley Dalmar Child & Family Care, PO Box 462, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In the arena of social welfare it is not unusual for practitioners to endeavour to give a voice to the disadvantaged by working to empower clients; placing value on each individual member in a family; helping communities care for each other; advocating for the rights of children and women. No doubt this is all familiar rhetoric to most welfare and social workers. However, in the area of foster care a voice that has seldom been heard is the voice of the ‘children who care’. The natural children of foster carers are valuable members of the caring team and whilst many foster parents are aware of their own children's contribution in caring for foster children, foster care agencies and social workers/caseworkers have not formally acknowledged them or accorded to them the support they deserve. Better outcomes for children in foster care and for families who care will be achieved if practitioners consult with, support, and acknowledge the ‘children who care’.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , 2003 , pp. 17 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barber, J.G. & Gilbertson, R. (2002) ‘Fosler Care Practice: what does the research say?’. Developing Practice, Autumn, pp 34–35.Google Scholar
Berridge, D. (1993) Foster Care: A Research Review, University of Luton, Department of Health, Controller of Her Majesty's Stationey office. Department of Health, London Google Scholar
McKissock, M. & McKissock, D. (1998) Bereavement Counselling: Guidelines for Practitioners, Book Bound Publishing, Sydney.Google Scholar
Moslehuddin, Md Badal (1999) ‘The impact of fostering on the biological children of fostercarers’. Children Australia, 24(4). pp 49–54.Google Scholar
Pugh, Gill (1996) ‘Seen but not heard?: Addressing the needs of children who foster’, Adoption & Fostering, 20(1), pp 35–41.Google Scholar
Stedman, S. (1998) Paper presented at the National Foster Carers Association Conference, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Stedman, S. (2001) Group presentation at the NSW Foster Carers Association annual conference, Coffs Harbour, NSW, May.Google Scholar
Watson, A. (2002) ‘The impact of fostering on fostercarers' own children”. Adoption & Fostering. 26(1), pp 49–55.Google Scholar