Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T21:43:42.702Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Fostering Together–The Why and How of Involving and Supporting Biological Children of Foster Carers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2015

Anna Targowska*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology & Social Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dve, Joondalup Western Australia 6027, Australia
Tara Cavazzi
Affiliation:
School of Psychology & Social Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Stephan Lund
Affiliation:
Wanslea Family Services, Perth, Western Australia
*
address for correspondence: Dr Anna Targowska, School of Psychology & Social Science, Social Justice Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dve, Joondalup Western Australia 6027, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

This article discusses the outcomes of a research project undertaken in 2011/2013 by a team of researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in collaboration with Wanslea Family Services. The project aimed to address the relative lack of voice of biological children in the fostering task, despite the increasing acknowledgement of children's rights and their capability to be involved in decision-making processes. Data was collected through the use of focus groups and interviews with a small number of biological children, foster carers and service providers in Western Australia (WA). The data indicated the necessity to reconsider the rights of biological children in the fostering task and the need for specific strategies to address these rights. The findings of the study informed the development of a set of interactive resources for supporting biological children of foster carers during all stages of the fostering process in Australia. The resources also have potential value for use in overseas jurisdictions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

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

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW]. (2014). Child protection Australia: 2012–13. Child Welfare series no. 58. Canberra, Australia: AIHW.Google Scholar
Briggs, F., & Broadhurst, D. (2005). The abuse of foster carers in Australia. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia, 12 (1), 2535.Google Scholar
Bruce, C., & Bruce, P. (2002). Summary of the relationship between foster children and the foster parents’ own children: A unique entity. Paper presented at the Foster Family-based Treatment Association's 16th Annual Conference on Treatment Foster Care, Nashville, Tennessee.Google Scholar
Clare, M., Clare, B., & Peaty, A. (2006). Children who foster: The impact on the children of foster carers when foster children reside in foster families. Report of the Foster Care Association/University of WA project funded by Lotterywest.Google Scholar
Clark, A., & Statham, J. (2005). Listening to young children: Experts in their lives. Adoption & Fostering. 29 (1), 4556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cline, L. (2005). Foster parent's children: Their thoughts on fostering and the role they wish to place. Paper presented at the Foster Family-based Treatment Association's 19th Annual Conference on Treatment Foster Care, Atlanta, Georgia.Google Scholar
Colton, M., Roberts, S., & Williams, M. (2008). The recruitment and retention of family foster-carers: An international and cross-cultural analysis. British Journal of Social Work, 38 (5), 865884.Google Scholar
Corsaro, W. A. (1997). The sociology of childhood. London: Pine Forge Press.Google Scholar
Heidbuurt, J. (2004). All in the family home: The biological children of parents who foster. Paper presented at the Foster Family-based Treatment Association's 18th Annual Conference on Treatment Foster Care, Nashville, Tennessee.Google Scholar
Hojer, I. (2005). Sons and daughters of foster carers and the impact of fostering on their everyday life. Child and Family Social Work, 12, 7383.Google Scholar
Jans, M. (2008). Children as citizens: Towards contemporary notion of child participation. Childhood: A Global Journal of Child Research, 11 (1), 2744.Google Scholar
Jenks, C. (Ed.). (1982). The sociology of childhood: Essential readings. London: Batsford.Google Scholar
Kaplan, C. (1988). The biological children of foster parents in the foster family. Child and Adolescent Social Work, 5 (4), 281299.Google Scholar
Martin, G. (1993). Foster care: The protection and training of carers’ children. Child Abuse Review, 2 (1), 1522.Google Scholar
McKechnie, J. (2002). Children's voices and researching children. In Goldson, B., Lavalette, M. and McKechnie, J. (Eds.), Children, welfare and the state (pp. 4258). London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Moslehuddin, M. B. (1999). The impact of fostering on the biological children of foster carers: A review of literature. Children Australia, 24 (4), 4955.Google Scholar
National Health and Medical Research Council. (2007). National statement on ethical conduct in human research. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.Google Scholar
Noble-Carr, D., Farnham, J., & Dean, C. (2014). Needs and experiences of biological children of foster carers: A scoping study. Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU.Google Scholar
Nuske, E. (2005). Beyond the double-edged sword: The contradictory experiences of biological children in foster families. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference at the Centre for Research on Community and Children's Services, McKay, Queensland.Google Scholar
Nuske, E. (2010). Balancing contradictions: The experiences of biological children of foster families. Children Australia, 35 (3), 3239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Part, D. (1993). Fostering as seen by carers’ children. Adoption and Fostering, 17 (1), 2631.Google Scholar
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Pugh, G. (1996). Seen but not heard? Addressing the needs of children who foster. Adoption and Fostering, 20 (1), 3541.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quortrup, J., Bardy, M., Sgritta, G., & Wintersberger, H. (Eds.), (1994). Childhood matters. Vienna: European Centre.Google Scholar
Siminski, P., Chalmers, J., & McHugh, M. (2005). Foster carers in New South Wales: Profile and projections based on ABS Census data. Children Australia, 30 (3), 1724.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Wilson, K., & Gibbs, I. (2005). Foster placements: Why they succeed and why they fail. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Sutton, L., & Stack, N. (2013). Hearing quiet voices: Biological children's experiences of fostering. British Journal of Social Work, 43 (3), 596612.Google Scholar
Tadros, L. (2003). Caring for children who care: Acknowledging the importance of the natural children of foster parents. Children Australia, 28 (3), 1721.Google Scholar
Thomas, C., & Thomas, N. (2005). Ways forward: Guest Editorial. Adoption and Fostering, 29 (1), 24.Google Scholar
Thompson, H., & McPherson, S. (2011). The experience of living with a foster sibling, as described by the birth children of foster carers: A thematic analysis of the literature. Adoption and Fostering, 35 (2), 4960.Google Scholar
Twigg, R., & Swan, T. (2003). What about the kids? Looking at the effects of fostering on foster parents’ children. Paper presented at the Foster Family-based Treatment Association's 17th Annual Conference on Treatment Foster Care, Atlanta, Georgia.Google Scholar
Twigg, R., & Swan, T. (2007). Inside the foster family: What research tells us about the experience of foster carers’ children. Adoption and Fostering, 31 (4), 4961.Google Scholar
United Nations. (1989). Convention on the rights of the child. Geneva: United Nations.Google Scholar
Walsh, J., & Campbell, H. (2010). To what extent does current policy and practice pay adequate attention to the needs of the sons and daughters of foster carers, particularly in the context of planned or unplanned placement endings? Retrieved September 9, 2011, from http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/assets/0001/0532/Microsoft_Word_-_PLR0910103Walsh.pdf.Google Scholar
Watson, A., & Jones, D. (2002). The impact of fostering on foster carers’ own children. Adoption and Fostering, 26 (1), 4955.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whiting, J. B., & Lee, R. E. (2003). Voices from the system: A qualitative study of foster children's stories. Family Relations, 52 (3), 288296.Google Scholar
Younes, M. N., & Harp, M. (2007). Addressing the impact of foster care on biological children and their families. Child Welfare, 86 (4), 2140.Google Scholar