The aim of this study was to examine how foster-care workers use their discretion, also how they evaluate foster-care investigations and which criteria affects the outcome of the investigations. Our focus group were social workers from four middle-sized municipalities and two social workers from the private sector. Two overall themes were identified after our interviews, both with underlying themes: discretion during investigation and criteria for foster-care takers.The analysis was based on previous research and theory. Our main conclusions were that social workers’ discretion is affected by the guidelines and methods established at their workplace. Also that the criterias for foster-care takers depends on the situation, but the foster child needs his or her own room in the home and the foster parent can not appear in criminal records.

Thesis advisor: Betty Blythe / This dissertation is a secondary analysis of a preexisting dataset, the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), Assessments 0-4 produced by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) located in the Family Development Center at Cornell University (2001). This is a large scale dataset employing five sites across the United States. Three sites are used: the Northwest, South and Southwest as they contain the largest numbers exhibiting the behavior of interest, hurting animals by children. These sites have sample sizes of 261, 221 and 327 children, respectively. The samples were chosen for varying levels of risk for child abuse and neglect; data collection began in 1991 and is ongoing. The children were born between 1989 and 1996. The number of children who hurt animals at each site was as follows: 16 (South Site), 25 (Northwest Site) and 36 (Southwest Site). Hypotheses were that more males than females would hurt animals; females who hurt animals would show more internalizing problems than males who hurt animals; males who hurt animals would show more externalizing problems than females who hurt animals and children who hurt animals would experience higher rates of physical abuse than children who have not hurt animals. An additional hypothesis was that hurting animals would correlate with aggressive and delinquent behaviors and attention problems as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL, Achenbach, 1991). Only one hypothesis was fully supported: aggression, delinquent behavior and attention problems all correlate with higher rates of these behaviors exhibited by children who hurt animals. Aggression, in particular, was associated with the behavior of hurting animals. Physical abuse was not correlated with hurting animals and only one site (the Southwest) showed a statistically significant difference between males and females for this behavior with males more likely to do so. Other findings of interest show correlations between hurting animals and aspects of parenting, day care utilization and foster care placement at at least one site. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

After the transition from apartheid to democracy, the South African government embarked on designing policies and laws to address social problems and protect vulnerable groups in communities. Orphaned children are regarded as being vulnerable. The Children’s Act No. 38 of 2005 (as amended) is a legal document set to address issues related to vulnerable children and to ensure that their best interests are met. In terms of Section 150 of the said Act, orphaned children could be identified as children in need of care and protection if they are without visible means of support. However, this section of the Act is open to various interpretations and expectations. Social Workers at the Department of Social Development are currently under pressure to recommend to presiding officers of the Children’s Court that an orphaned child be legally placed in the foster care of the relative. However, presiding officers often question such recommendations because in their opinion the child does not present as a child in need of care and protection and as a result the recommendation made is rejected. This response lowers work morale because it displays disregard for the professional integrity of Social Workers and also increases their already high caseloads. This research study explored the perspectives of Social Workers regarding the legal placement of children in the foster care of relatives. Purposive sampling was used to recruit research participants, 30 foster care Social Work based at Department of Social Development in the Johannesburg Metro Region. A qualitative research design was adopted. Data was gathered using personal interviews and focus groups. A semi-structured interview schedule was utilized to guide the structure of the personal interviews and focus groups. Data gathered was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings has provided insight into what intervention strategies are deemed to be in the best interests of vulnerable orphaned children from the perspective of social workers and possible recommendations for policy changes.

Reintegração familiar é o termo utilizado no âmbito jurídico para se referir ao processo de crianças/adolescentes que retornaram às suas famílias de origem (natural ou extensa) após terem passado por acolhimento institucional ou familiar. Documentos jurídicos que regulamentam a reintegração e a literatura sobre esse tema enfatizam a necessidade de se investir na família para viabilizar o retorno seguro ao convívio familiar, mas não indicam como isso deve ou pode ocorrer na prática. Pautando-se na perspectiva da Rede de Significações, esta pesquisa objetiva investigar o processo de reintegração familiar de crianças de 0 a 7 anos e seis meses que estiveram nos serviços de acolhimento institucional, em Ribeirão Preto, durante o período de Setembro/2008 a Setembro/2010. Para tal, foi realizada a caracterização dessas crianças, de suas famílias e de sua trajetória de acolhimento - reintegração familiar, a partir de 50 autos processuais na Vara da Infância e Juventude do Tribunal de Justiça e dos prontuários institucionais, cujos dados foram analisados quantitativamente, através de estatística descritiva. Ressaltam-se alguns resultados: o número de participantes foi de 50 crianças, dentre as quais havia 13 grupos de irmãos, totalizando 36 famílias. Sobre as crianças, 25 são meninas e 25 meninos; 66% foram registradas pelos pais juntos; 34% tinham até seis meses de idade; 62% são brancas; 88% têm irmãos; 86% têm outros parentes além da família natural e 14% vivenciaram acolhimento(s) anterior(es). Sobre as famílias, encontrou-se uma significativa ausência de informações; famílias dirigidas por mulheres; pais com idade entre 17 a 39 anos, predominantemente solteiros e separados, com baixa escolaridade, desempregados ou com trabalhos que exigem pouca qualificação e oferecem baixa remuneração. Com relação à reintegração familiar, há um desencontro de \"com quem estava a criança antes do acolhimento\" e \"para quem ela foi após reintegração\", a maioria estava com os pais, sobretudo com as mães, e foi reinserida na família extensa, prevalentemente com as avós. Ademais, foi notória a participação da família materna neste processo. Os acolhimentos foram breves: 76% das crianças permaneceram até 75 dias na instituição, as mais velhas foram reintegradas mais rapidamente, principalmente aquelas que faziam parte dos grupos de irmãos e os bebês (0 a 6 meses) permaneceram acolhidos por um período maior (2,5 meses a 3 anos). Os principais motivos do acolhimento registrados foram: o uso abusivo de álcool e/ou drogas pelos pais (76%), negligência (66%), abandono (34%), falta temporária de condições, moradia e problemas socioeconômicos (30%). Intervenções que visam à reintegração resumem-se, basicamente, a entrevistas com as famílias e visitas domiciliares, realizadas pela equipe técnica das instituições e do judiciário. Notou-se, ainda, a ausência de informações sobre o acompanhamento pós-reintegração. Observou-se a coexistência entre novas leis e velhas práticas: \"cultura de institucionalização\" x acolhimentos - reintegrações breves; (re)inserções na família extensa; presença do PIA e de guias de acolhimento/desacolhimento nos autos e prontuários. Tais resultados revelam a importância de pesquisas que mostrem como o trabalho de reinserção vem sendo feito na prática a fim de embasar as necessárias adequações nas políticas públicas e no trabalho em rede. / Family Reintegration is the legal term used to refer to the process in which children/teenagers have returned to their original family (natural or extended), after a period of institutional or family foster care. Legal documents that regulate reintegration and the literature regarding this subject emphasize the need for investing in the family to facilitate a safe return to a family environment, however, they do not indicate how it should or may occur in practice. Based on the \"Network of Meanings\' perspective, this study investigates the process of family reintegration of 0 to 7 years 6 months old children who have been in residential care in Ribeirão Preto, from September/2008 to September/2010. With this aim, we did a characterization of these children, their families and their institutional trajectory and family reintegration, based on 50 court processes of the Child and Youth Justice Court and their respective records. The data was analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics. Some results are hereby highlighted: the number of participants was 50 children, among which there were 13 groups of siblings, on a total of 36 families. 25 children were girls and 25 were boys; 66% were registered by both their parents; 34% had up to 6 months of age; 62% were Caucasian; 88% have siblings; 86% have other relatives besides the close family; and 14% have experienced previous hosting(s). Regarding the families, a significant lack of information was observed; families headed by women; parents aged 17-39 years old; predominantly unmarried and separated; with low education; unemployed or with jobs that requires few skills and offer low wages. With respect to family reintegration there is a mismatch on \"with whom the child was before hosting\" and \"to whom it was after reintegration\"; the majority was initially with their parents, specially the mothers, and were reinserted in the extended family, prevalently with the grandparents. Furthermore, the maternal family participation in this process was evident. The hosting period were brief: 76% of children stayed in the institution up to 75 days, the oldest children were quickly reintegrated, especially those who belonged to groups of siblings. On the other hand, babies (0-6 months) remained upheld for longer periods (2,5 months to 3 years). The main reasons for the recorded hosting were: the abusive use of alcohol and/or drugs by the parents (76%), negligence (66%), abandonment (34%), temporary lack of financial conditions, housing and socioeconomic issues (30%). Interventions that aimed at reintegration are basically interviews with families and domiciliary visits, conducted by the technical staff of the institutions and the judiciary. It was also noted the absence of information on the follow-up after reintegration. The study pointed to the coexistence of new laws and old practices: \"institutionalization culture\" versus quick reintegrations, but in the extended family; the PIA (plan of work with each child/family) and guidelines for fostering and reintegration begin to appear in the records and files. Those results point to the importance of research showing how the reintegration work has been done in practice in order to support the necessary adjustments in public policy and networking.

Orientador: Débora Cristina Fonseca / Resumo: O acolhimento de crianças e adolescentes na residência de famílias acolhedoras é uma modalidade de atendimento destinada à crianças e adolescentes com direitos violados. Legitimado junto a política de assistência social foi, em 2006, organizado e normatizado, descritivamente, no Plano Nacional de Proteção, Promoção e Defesa dos Direitos da Criança e do Adolescente à Convivência Familiar e Comunitária. Considerando ser um serviço inovador no âmbito da proteção social este estudo teve por objetivo conhecer as diferenças relacionais, educacionais e culturais que surgem no processo de acolhimento e os impactos que produzem nas histórias de vida dos membros da família acolhedora. Especificamente, se propôs a compreender as concepções que as famílias acolhedoras constroem sobre a criança, a família de origem e a violação de direito que culminou na medida protetiva; conhecer como ocorrem os processos de vinculação e ruptura de vínculos, pressupostos na ação de acolher e verificar se as diferenças geram conflitos e quais recursos educacionais, psicológicos e sociais as famílias acolhedoras utilizam para enfrentar essas diferenças. Utilizou-se como instrumento de coleta de dados dois grupos focais: um com os guardiões e cuidadores adultos; e outro com os filhos crianças e adolescentes das famílias acolhedoras. A análise dos dados se orientou a luz da metodologia dos núcleos de significação apreendidos a partir dos conteúdos produzidos pelos grupos focais, orientados pela psicologia só... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The sheltering of childerns and adolescents in foster families is a modality of foster care intended for children and adolescents who have their violated by neglet, abuse or violence. Legitimized with the social assistance policy, in 2006 it was organized and normalized, descriptively, in the National Plan of Protection, the Promotion and Defense of the Rights of Children and Adolescents in Family and Community Living. Considering that it is an innovative service in the area of social protection, this study aims to evaluate the relational, educational and cultural differences that arise in the reception process and the impacts they produce in the life stories of the members of the foster family. Specifically, this work intends to understand the conceptions that the foster families construct on the child, the biological family and the violation of right that culminated in the protective measure; to understand how the processes the of attachment and rupture of the relationships occur, assumptions in the action of welcoming. This research anchored in the contributions of socio-historical psychology that aims to find, in particular, the instance of social totality. With de adults, were identified 7 (seven) groups of significance, being: group 1 – The experience with de contradictions: the foster family feelings in the experience of attachment and detachment; Group 2 – The disconexion: dilemma as between farewell and the maintenance of bond; Group 3 –thebiological family valution ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Este trabalho objetivou discutir as interações entre serviços de acolhimento e famílias de crianças e adolescentes em medida de acolhimento por negligência. Está organizado em quatro capítulos e no formato de artigos. O Capítulo I consiste em uma introdução ao tema dos serviços de acolhimento para crianças e adolescentes no Brasil, os avanços ao longo dos anos e desafios atuais. Traz uma perspectiva geral e histórica sobre o tema infância e adolescência no Brasil relacionada à violência e as medidas protetivas associadas. O Capítulo II relata uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada à luz da Teoria Bioecológica do Desenvolvimento Humano, com base na inserção ecológica e com análise de dados pela Grounded Theory. Esta pesquisa foi realizada com duas famílias com crianças e adolescentes recolhidas em serviços de acolhimento de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Nesse capítulo está descrito todo o processo de pesquisa, desde a inserção nas instituições até a análise dos dados, integrando os resultados da pesquisa, as teorias, as leis e as discussões acerca do tema. O Capítulo III discute o acompanhamento das famílias das crianças e adolescentes em serviços de acolhimento dentro do Sistema de Garantia de Direitos de Crianças e Adolescentes no Brasil. Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa da legislação e literatura acerca do trabalho articulado com as famílias, embasada especialmente na legislação vigente, nas orientações técnicas dos diversos serviços e políticas públicas brasileiras e na experiência das pesquisadoras. É um capítulo teórico, mas com enfoque e objetivo de contribuir com a prática do acompanhamento das famílias. O Capítulo IV integra e sintetiza as discussões anteriores, de modo a apresentar algumas considerações acerca dos serviços de acolhimento, da interação entre família e instituição, assim como do acompanhamento familiar no Sistema de Garantia de Direitos. / This study aimed to discuss the interactions between foster care and families of children and adolescents in shelter for negligence. It is organized into four chapters. The First Chapter is a introduce about foster care in Brazil, the advances and current challenges. It show an overview and historical perspective about childhood and adolescence in Brazil, violence and protective measures. The Second Chapter report a qualitative research conducted from Bioecological Theory of Human Development, ecological insertion and data analysis by the Grounded Theory. This research was conducted with two families with children and adolescents in foster care in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. This chapter describes the research process, the analyze the data, integrating the results of the research, theories, laws and discussions about the subject. The Third Chapter discuss the the monitoring of families of children and adolescents in foster care into the Children's and Adolescents Rights Guarantee System in Brazil. This is a narrative review of the legislation and literature about the work with families, based in the current legislation, the technical guidance and Brazilian public policies. It’s a theoretical chapter, but the goal is contribute with the monitoring of families of children and adolescents in foster care. The Chapter IV integrates and summarizes previous discussions, in order to present some considerations about the care services, the interaction between family and institution, as well as family monitoring the Rights Guarantee System.

A presente investigação tem como objetivo estudar sobre o futuro do adolescente abrigado no imaginário coletivo de psicólogos. Justifica-se na medida em que, abordando um grupo profissional atento à importância da adolescência, no percurso da vida pessoal, pode contribuir para um debate sobre a condução de vítimas de sofrimentos sociais a abrigos. Articula-se, do ponto de vista metodológico, por meio da realização de entrevistas individuais, estruturadas a partir do uso do Procedimento Desenhos-Estórias com Tema, com oito psicólogos. Tais encontros foram registrados sob forma de narrativas transferenciais que, conjuntamente com os desenhos e as histórias, foram consideradas à luz do método psicanalítico. Por esta via, foi possível chegar à produção interpretativa de três campos de sentido afetivo-emocional ou inconscientes relativos: Fadado ao fracasso, Salvo por mágica e Com ajuda e boa vontade. O quadro geral revela uma tendência dos participantes a considerar que o adolescente abrigado dificilmente escapará a um futuro infeliz. Assim, fica claro que se posicionam de modo crítico à realidade dos abrigos, concebendo-os como instituições que não chegam a dar conta satisfatoriamente de sua função social / This research intends to study the future of adolescents in foster care within the collective imaginary of psychologists.The study can contribute to the debate over the conduction of the victims of social suffering to foster care shelters by addressing a professional group aware of the importance of adolescence during the personal life. This approach consists, from the methodological point of view, in structured interviews conducted with eight psychologists using the story-drawing procedure with a theme. Such meetings were registered under the form of transferential narratives, which, along with the drawings and the stories, were considered through the psychoanalytical method. This way, it was possible to reach the interpretative production of three affective-emotional meaning fields or relative unconsciousness: Bound to fail, Saved by Magic and With help and will. The general framework reveals a trend of the participants to consider that the sheltered adolescent will hardly come off from a miserable future. Thus, it is clear that these professionals position themselves critically to the foster care shelter reality, conceiving them as institutions that are not able to fulfill their social function satisfactorily

No description available.

About half a million children live in out-of-home care, generally due to state intervention (Children’s Bureau, 2016). The outcomes of youth in treatment are improved when they have stable relationships with caregiving adults. Group homes based on the Teaching-Family Model utilize a married couple who live in the home and are the primary care treatment providers. The present study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experience of eight men who have worked in this role for at least a year. Intrapersonal and interpersonal processes and motivations were identified as common themes among respondents for how and why they continued in a difficult job and lifestyle. Implications for Teaching-Family Model group homes and foster care agencies are discussed, as well as possible directions for further research.

Currently, there are thousands of foster youth in the child welfare system. When they reach the age of 18, some of these youth emancipate from the system, while some of them participate in extended foster care. The extended foster care system was implemented to support and provide services to young adults passed the age of 18, to provide them a couple more years to obtain stability in their lives. In order to participate in extended foster care, they have to meet a few requirements, and sometimes this is the minimum level of commitment and effort they contribute. These requirements include: school enrollment, employment working at least 80 hours per month, enrollment in a program for employment readiness or a documented medical condition that hinders the youth from any of the above. These young adults in extended foster care do not always have positive experiences and positive results. This study was conducted to explore this topic. This was an explorative study which conducted a qualitative analysis of interviews of young adults in extended foster care. These interviews were analyzed by using the Constant Comparative Analysis approach. The results provided a glimpse into the experiences of these young adults. Overall, their experiences are positive, but there is a need expressed by these youth, that more services and support would be helpful and in turn could produce more successful results for the extended foster care program, as a whole. Future research can build upon this study, by using a larger sample size, using a mixed methodology, and using a consistent interview method, to explore areas of concern in order to be able to generalize the results to all youth and extended foster care programs across the state of California.