Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:53:39.344Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“The Way All Foster Care Should Be”: The Experience of Therapeutic Foster Carers in the Victorian Circle Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2014

Margarita Frederico ,
Maureen Long ,
Patricia McNamara  and
Lynne McPherson
Margarita Frederico*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
Maureen Long
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
Patricia McNamara
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
Lynne McPherson
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Associate Professor Margarita Frederico, Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Central to the success of therapeutic foster care (TFC) is the quality and stability of the relationship between the child and carer. This key relationship may, from a therapeutic perspective, facilitate healing by addressing the impact of complex developmental trauma experienced by the child who has been placed in care. Stability of the carer–child relationship is critical in this context. Therapeutic carers have been shown to be significantly more likely to remain in the role of carer than their counterparts in mainstream foster care. The research reported on in this paper draws upon findings from an evaluation of a TFC programme and gives voice to the Circle Carers, presenting the components of TFC which are important to them. The paper commences with the story of Ruby in TFC as told by a carer. The focus then becomes a detailed exploration of the experience of carers and their capacity to care. Implications for practice are identified.

Keywords

therapeutic foster carecarerschildren and young peopleout-of-home care
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 39 , Issue 4: ATTACHMENT AND TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICE , December 2014 , pp. 211 - 215
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2014 

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

Belsky, J. (1993). The etiology of child maltreatment: A developmental-ecological analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 413–434.Google Scholar
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3 (2), 77–101.Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development experiments by nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Children Youth and Families Act. (2005). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Victorian Government Printer for the State of Victoria.Google Scholar
Frederico, M., Long, M., McNamara, P., McPherson, L., Rose, R., & Gilbert, K. (2012). The Circle Program: An evaluation of a therapeutic approach to foster care. Melbourne: Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.Google Scholar
Perry, B. D. (2009). Examining child maltreatment through a neurodevelopmental lens. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14, 240–255.Google Scholar
Schofield, G., & Beek, M. (2005). Risk and resilience in long-term foster-care. British Journal of Social Work, 35 (8), 1281–1301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schonkoff, J., & Phillips, , , D. (2000). From neurons to neighbourhoods. The science of early childhood development. Washington DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Victorian Government Department of Human Services (DHS). (2007). Best Interests Case Practice Model. Melbourne: Government of Victoria.Google Scholar
Victorian Government Department of Human Services (DHS). (2009). Circle Program Guidelines. Melbourne: Government of Victoria.Google Scholar