In this study, I explored Adult Foster Care (AFC) provider experiences. AFC is a small-setting option for community-based long-term care. This option varies considerably in accessibility and structure across states; due to the nature of the state's approach to AFC, this initial research effort focused on AFC provider experiences in North Carolina. As of 2013, there were 632 AFC facilities in North Carolina (NC DHHS, 2013). AFC homes in North Carolina are licensed by the state and allow service for 2-6 residents per home (Mollica et al., 2009). The approach to research was informed by literature on AFC, the disabilities context of AFC, and Child Foster Care (CFC). The theoretical framework guiding the study included theories of care and relational reciprocity; power, difference, and hierarchy; and intersectionality. I conducted semi-structured, guided interviews with 26 providers. As a context for grounded theory data analysis, I also relied on reflexive material stemming from my positionality as a care worker. Emergent codes related to issues of the providers' motivation for beginning work as an AFC provider; providers' personal and professional roles; perspectives on giving residents a choice; balancing "family" with business; reciprocity and how residents express their affection and care to providers; providers' values; and dialectics of power and care. Findings shed light on implications for state and organizational responsibility to the AFC system, and practice context for provider-resident relationships. / Ph. D.

The mental health crisis is one of the many pandemics that the world is facing. For years it has been something that has been looked down upon as something that only people in mental institutions deal with, but in fact it is much more widespread than previously thought. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has brought to light the many struggles that people face and has led to a push for a focus on healing these invisible ailments. Often we think of doctors as the people who are responsible for anything health related, but as people spend a vast majority of their time indoors, that responsibility really falls on architects. The design world seems to support this theory as trends have led towards the incorporation of more natural elements into buildings, often referred to as, 'biophilia' and 'wellness' principles. While we enjoy the views of nature and fresh air in our daily lives, there is also scientific evidence to prove that these elements are beneficial to the physical and mental health of living beings. Thus, as architects we have the ability to go beyond creating a merely visually appealing and functionally operating spaces, and should use our skills to create environments that have a positive impact on the users' well-being. For this thesis, I redesigned the way in which group homes are designed for teens in Foster Care with these principles in mind. Teens are often the hardest to place with families, as many foster parents don't want to deal with the effects that childhood trauma has had on these individuals, so many of them end up in group homes. These institutions often provide resources, but unfortunately lack the individualized attention and home-like feeling that living with a family does, in the best-case scenario. It has been my mission to design a place that provides the residents with the comforts of a home, as well as wellness and nature-based spaces to ensure that they have the time and space to heal and grow. / Master of Architecture / Many teens in foster care end up in group housing. While these spaces provide shelter and the ability for social workers to stop by, they lack the consistent support and resources of living in a home with a family. My thesis dives into what makes a new space feel like home and how various methods of architecture and interior design can integrate therapeutic elements into living spaces used by teens to help them heal from childhood trauma. The existing building (Bundy School) contains an organization called Safe Shores, which provides children with a safe space to report abuse; it gives them access to legal, forensic, and mental health resources to help them get justice and handle the trauma that they have been through. The existing building doesn't currently provide any housing resources for the victims. My thesis is a renovation of the existing office spaces, as well as the addition of a new building providing housing for teens in foster care, victims of abuse, or any teens who are in need of housing in a long or short term capacity.

Social workers in this study describes various experiences of the assessments of interventions for children and adolescents. Social workers experience of the many different situations where an assessment of best effort must be made on the basis of BBIC, which is the Social Services investigation records. To make this assessment, the Social workers need social assistance and support of their colleagues and manager. Knowledge mixed with experience is also an important part when it comes to being professional and not let emotions control that could otherwise be happened when the social worker meets and builds relationships with clients. Social workers are also those who will decide which achievement the client needs from the needs. We use systems theory, Hasenfeld´s theory of human services organizations  and Lipsky´s grassroots bureaucrats to analyze how social worker work with clients of different experiences, knowledge and some of their own personal values for the various operations. The efforts in our work we have examined is traditional familycare and MTFC (Multi dementional Treatment Foster Care), we have found that there are different arguments for different actions, but the assessments are made virtually the same assessment model. There are requirements that govern the operation of which is matched with the objectives and resources administration. Social worker also believes that social work is a game where we do not know how the results will be.

<p>Social workers in this study describes various experiences of the assessments of interventions for children and adolescents. Social workers experience of the many different situations where an assessment of best effort must be made on the basis of BBIC, which is the Social Services investigation records. To make this assessment, the Social workers need social assistance and support of their colleagues and manager. Knowledge mixed with experience is also an important part when it comes to being professional and not let emotions control that could otherwise be happened when the social worker meets and builds relationships with clients. Social workers are also those who will decide which achievement the client needs from the needs. We use systems theory, Hasenfeld´s theory of human services organizations  and Lipsky´s grassroots bureaucrats to analyze how social worker work with clients of different experiences, knowledge and some of their own personal values for the various operations. The efforts in our work we have examined is traditional familycare and MTFC (Multi dementional Treatment Foster Care), we have found that there are different arguments for different actions, but the assessments are made virtually the same assessment model. There are requirements that govern the operation of which is matched with the objectives and resources administration. Social worker also believes that social work is a game where we do not know how the results will be.</p>

TITLE: Foster care for temporary period: Process of imparting child to biological family ABSTRACT: This thesis is dedicated to the question of process of returning children from foster care for temporary period to their biological family. Its aim was to spot problems that have occurred within the process and to provide suggestions for their possible solution. Research among a sample of eight families was carried via semistructured interview method. The results were summed up in case studies, while each case was thoroughly analysed. Research questions were answered and the answers were presented collectively for all families. The research uncovered repetitive failures in the process of imparting children from foster care for temporary period to their biological family. The outcome of the research was a recommendation for Ministry of Labour and Social affairs, in whose competence this area of foster care lies. KEYWORDS: Foster care Foster care for temporary period Biological family Process of imparting a child Social worker

This thesis is a qualitative probe into the story of a temporary foster mother. The thesis captures, analyses and classifies this story into systemic context. It does so with an emphasis on the temporary foster mother's personal experience and also with using personal experience of other participants involved in this particular case - including mine. This thesis is largely a reflection of my own role in this story, it is looking at it from different perspectives that evolve over time. The thesis is grounded in theoretical sources, especially methodologies of temporary foster care and methodological recommendations. Theoretical sources are critically viewed and connected to personal experience. The resulting storytelling, which provides an insight into the wider context of temporary foster care in the Czech Republic, was based on this procedure. Capturing systemic context is used in this thesis to create suggestions for possible systemic improvements.

The topic of my thesis is importace of foster care in the social-legal protection of children. The thesis deals with the issues of foster care, professional foster care and also of the transformation of care for children in need. The aim is to describe changes in the foster care that brought the amendment of the Law on the social-legal protection of child and adoption of the new Civil Code. Another aim is to determine the effect of strengthening the professional foster care to the number of children placed in institutional care. In the beginning of the thesis is defined the concept of family, social-legal protection of children, alternative family care and its forms like foster care, professional foster care and adoption. Another part of thesis deals with amendment to the Law on social and legal protection of children and the new Civil Code. In this part I describe the most important changes that the Law on the social-legal protection of children brought and I also describe changes that brought an amendment to the civil code. The adoption of the amendment to the social-legal protection brings a number of changes in the activities of the social-legal protection of children and the exercise of social-legal protection of children in general. The last chapter deals with the statistic of foster care. This part compares the number of children in professional foster care and institutional care.

No description available.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka det stöd och den hjälp familjehemsplacerade barn har fått av socialtjänsten. Fem personer som har varit placerade i familjehem under sin uppväxt har intervjuats och materialet har sedan analyserats med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Utifrån en induktiv ansats analyserades materialet först teorilöst för att sedan genomgå en andra analys utifrån teorin barndomssociologi och det teoretiska begreppet handlingsutrymme. Resultatet pekar på att socialarbetaren har en viktig och svår uppgift där skapandet av en tillitsfull relation är av stor vikt för att barnet ska kunna bli delaktig i processen. Lyhördhet, anpassning efter individ och situation samt att skapa utrymme för barnet att komma med önskemål är mycket betydelsefullt. Detta försvåras då socialarbetarna ofta har en stor arbetsbörda och begränsade resurser. / The purpose of this study is to look into what kind of support and help the social services has given to children placed in foster care. Five people who have been living in foster families during their childhood were interviewed and then the data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. On the basis of an inductive approach the data was first analyzed theorylessly and then in a secondary analysis the theory of children studies and the theoretical term discretion/acting space was applied. The result indicates that the social workers have an important and difficult task where the building of a relationship of trust is essential if the child should be able to really participate in the process. To be perceptive and make adjustments according to what is best for the individual and in the situation, and to make room for the child to express their wishes is significant. This can be difficult to manage because of the great workload social workers often have along with limited resources.

Historically and currently, the federal and provincial or territorial governments of Canada have neglected to ensure that Aboriginal children in foster care receive genuine, Aboriginal-centered cultural support. This research project aims to address the lack of available cultural programming for Aboriginal girls in foster care. Through interviews and a review of current literature, knowledge about cultural programming is examined and components of a successful mentorship model for Aboriginal girls in foster care are identified. Five semi-structured interviews were carried out and analyzed through grounded theory, complemented with autobiographical reflections. The study concludes that there is an evident need for cultural continuity programming for Aboriginal girls in foster care on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and that a mentorship framework is the best applicable model. / Graduate / 0452 / 0631 / 0326 / kr@uvic.ca