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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]
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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

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References

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