This master thesis deals with educational needs of foster parents. The main assumption of this thesis is that foster parents are despite all specifics among all parents. Therefore it firstly mentions competences, that are essential for good parenthood and relationship between parents as partners. Than it focuses on specific competences that are essential for foster parents. The main question then is how to encourage these competences during educational activities. In the next part this thesis describes the current state of education of foster parents, examples of good practice and present researches. The empirical part of the thesis consists of a qualitative research, which aims to describe the educational needs of foster parents, current deficiencies and suggestions on what to improve. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with foster parents and professionals in the field of alternative family care. On the basis of this research I propose a suitable educational programme for foster parents. KEY WORDS: education of foster parents, foster care, alternative family care, competences of parents

Based on the above findings and the preliminary theoretical framework, resource mobilizing and responsibility boundary is input to construct the support model of foster family. The characteristic of social support in substitute family is concluded. Recommendation about foster care policy and services is also provided. / Based on the review of literatures of foster care and social support, a preliminary theoretical framework is constructed. The important findings include: (l) The support relationship between foster families and foster adolescents is influenced by foster care service center and the natural family information of foster adolescents. Different foster families have different affection boundary and responsibility boundary. The boundary of support is constructed differently. Four types of support relationship is found: Totally Inclusive Supporting, Totally Exclusive Supporting, Semi Exclusive Supporting, and Passive Supporting. (2) In the support relationship between foster families and foster adolescents, foster families mobilize all kinds of family resources and outer resources to provide support to foster adolescents in living care, education, eliminating discrimination, development plan. (3) The support type of foster family is changing continuously. If the affection boundary and the responsibility boundary do not match with each other, the support relationship is not stable, or conflict with each other, and even collapse. / Since the 1990s, in the context of socialization of social welfare in China, the modern family foster care began to develop in China. This study is conducted in Shanghai, China. Qualitative research method is adopted. 16 foster adolescents and their foster families participate in this study. The aims of the study include exploring the support relationship between foster families and foster adolescents, researching the process of foster family's support to foster adolescents, finding the development of the support types, filling in the gaps of foster care study in China, expanding the study of social support in substitute family, advocating the foster care policy and services in China. / 王玥. / Advisers: Ngan-pun Ngai; Sek-yum Ngai. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 376-391). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Wang Yue.

<p>Syftet med vår studie var att få en inblick i hur familjehemsföräldrar ser på sitt uppdrag utifrån följande frågeställningar:</p><ul><li>Vilka motiv och förväntningar finns till att vilja bli familjehem?</li><li>Hur har uppdraget som familjehem påverkat relationerna i familjen?</li><li>Har familjehemmen avlastning eller behov av det?</li><li>Vilken syn har familjehemmen på handledning?</li><li>Hur resonerar familjehemmen kring den ekonomiska ersättningen?</li></ul><p>Studien genomfördes med utgångspunkt i kvalitativa intervjuer, där vi tillsammans intervjuade 9 olika familjehem knutna till Kristianstads kommun. I 7 av intervjuerna medverkade båda familjehemsföräldrarna, i 2 intervjuer medverkade den ena familjehemsföräldern; sammanlagt 16 respondenter.</p><p>Intervjuerna transkriberades, analyserades och presenterades sedan på två olika sätt. Utifrån meningskategorisering presenterades resultatet dels i idealtyper samt tematiskt utifrån citat.</p><p>Familjehemsföräldrarna i vår studie har en samsyn som par i hur de ser på sitt uppdrag, och att de arbetar väl tillsammans. I vår studie fann vi 5 olika idealtyper, som illustrerar hur de ser på olika frågor. Många av familjehemmen ansåg att uppdraget som familjehem hade blivit ett sätt att leva, en livsstil. Det fanns även familjehem som såg uppdraget som en profession, där de placerade barnen samtidigt var en del i familjen. Familjehemmen i vår studie hade åtagit sig uppdraget som familjehem med anledning av personlig erfarenhet och kontakt med andra familjehem i sin närhet. Familjehemmen var överens om att behovet av handledning var störst i början av ett uppdrag. Synen på avlastning skilde sig åt mellan familjehemmen. Familjehemmen såg det som en självklarhet att få ekonomisk ersättning för sitt uppdrag.</p> / <p>The purpose of our study was to investigate how foster-parents regard their task based on the following:</p><ul><li>Which motives and expectations do foster-parents have to become a foster-home?</li><li>How does the task as foster-home influence the relations of the family?</li><li>Do the foster-homes have any need of alleviance from their task? </li><li>Do the foster-homes have any need of guidance in their task?</li><li>How do foster-parents think regarding the financial part of their task?</li></ul><p>The study was carried out from the basis of qualitative interviews, in which we together interviewed 9 different foster-homes connected to the council of Kristianstad. In 7 of the interviews, both foster-parents participated, in 2 interviews one of the foster-parents participated; in total 16 responders. The interviews were transcribed, analysed and thereafter presented in two different ways. From coding categories, the result was presented both in idealtypes and thematically from quotes.</p><p>The foster-parents in our study appear to have a common view as couples in how they regard their task, and that they work well together. In our study we found 5 different idealtypes, who illustrate how they regard various issues. The foster-homes felt that their task had become a way of living, a life style. There were also foster-homes that viewed their task as a profession, where the placed children at the same time were a part of the family.</p><p>The foster-homes in our study had taken on the task as foster-home because of personal experiences and contact with other foster-homes in their vicinity. Regarding their view of guidance, the foster-parents agreed that they were in need of guidance mostly in the beginning of a task. The opinions are somewhat varied among foster-parents, regarding alliviance. The foster-parents think that the financial part of their task comes natural.</p>

Syftet med vår studie var att få en inblick i hur familjehemsföräldrar ser på sitt uppdrag utifrån följande frågeställningar: Vilka motiv och förväntningar finns till att vilja bli familjehem? Hur har uppdraget som familjehem påverkat relationerna i familjen? Har familjehemmen avlastning eller behov av det? Vilken syn har familjehemmen på handledning? Hur resonerar familjehemmen kring den ekonomiska ersättningen? Studien genomfördes med utgångspunkt i kvalitativa intervjuer, där vi tillsammans intervjuade 9 olika familjehem knutna till Kristianstads kommun. I 7 av intervjuerna medverkade båda familjehemsföräldrarna, i 2 intervjuer medverkade den ena familjehemsföräldern; sammanlagt 16 respondenter. Intervjuerna transkriberades, analyserades och presenterades sedan på två olika sätt. Utifrån meningskategorisering presenterades resultatet dels i idealtyper samt tematiskt utifrån citat. Familjehemsföräldrarna i vår studie har en samsyn som par i hur de ser på sitt uppdrag, och att de arbetar väl tillsammans. I vår studie fann vi 5 olika idealtyper, som illustrerar hur de ser på olika frågor. Många av familjehemmen ansåg att uppdraget som familjehem hade blivit ett sätt att leva, en livsstil. Det fanns även familjehem som såg uppdraget som en profession, där de placerade barnen samtidigt var en del i familjen. Familjehemmen i vår studie hade åtagit sig uppdraget som familjehem med anledning av personlig erfarenhet och kontakt med andra familjehem i sin närhet. Familjehemmen var överens om att behovet av handledning var störst i början av ett uppdrag. Synen på avlastning skilde sig åt mellan familjehemmen. Familjehemmen såg det som en självklarhet att få ekonomisk ersättning för sitt uppdrag. / The purpose of our study was to investigate how foster-parents regard their task based on the following: Which motives and expectations do foster-parents have to become a foster-home? How does the task as foster-home influence the relations of the family? Do the foster-homes have any need of alleviance from their task? Do the foster-homes have any need of guidance in their task? How do foster-parents think regarding the financial part of their task? The study was carried out from the basis of qualitative interviews, in which we together interviewed 9 different foster-homes connected to the council of Kristianstad. In 7 of the interviews, both foster-parents participated, in 2 interviews one of the foster-parents participated; in total 16 responders. The interviews were transcribed, analysed and thereafter presented in two different ways. From coding categories, the result was presented both in idealtypes and thematically from quotes. The foster-parents in our study appear to have a common view as couples in how they regard their task, and that they work well together. In our study we found 5 different idealtypes, who illustrate how they regard various issues. The foster-homes felt that their task had become a way of living, a life style. There were also foster-homes that viewed their task as a profession, where the placed children at the same time were a part of the family. The foster-homes in our study had taken on the task as foster-home because of personal experiences and contact with other foster-homes in their vicinity. Regarding their view of guidance, the foster-parents agreed that they were in need of guidance mostly in the beginning of a task. The opinions are somewhat varied among foster-parents, regarding alliviance. The foster-parents think that the financial part of their task comes natural.

The purpose of this qualitative sociological law study is to examine the relationship between the social services and civil court to apprehend if knowledge about the child's best interest is transfered from social workers to the legal system. This have been done by investigating civil court cases concerning custody transition from biological parents to foster parents according to 6 chapter 8 paragraph in the law of parenting, built upon the legal principle of the best interests of the child. Eight cases has been examined by using a method of qualitative text analysis and categorised into five primary categories and three concepts linked to sections of the law. The material has been analysed through a sociological law perspective, social constructionist theory and attachment theory. The study shows that a variety of factors interacts when it comes to determining what’s in the best interest of the child . Moreover, the civil court refers in all eight cases to social services assessments of the child's situation. This suggests that social services have an informal power position when it comes to decisions on custody transition in accordance with the child's best interests.

Most research studies focus on foster children or foster parents, there is dearth of research on the impact of fostering on biological children. This aim of this study was to fill the gap in the literature regarding the experiences of biological children sharing a home with foster children. It also investigated how biological children perceive foster care and challenges encountered by children under foster care. This was achieved through a qualitative research approach. The study was conducted at Zwelitsha Township in King Williams Town. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with thirty biological children of foster parents and ten social workers in practice. Two focus group discussions were held with twenty foster parents. A focus group discussion guide was used in collecting information during the discussions. Purposive sampling was used in the study and data was analysed according to themes. The major findings revealed that fostering has both positive and negative impacts on biological children and the foster family. Biological children find foster care placement as helpful to children whose parents cannot provide care and protection for children. They gain and learn new knowledge through fostering and are happy about their new siblings in the family since they have companionship. On the other hand, minority of biological children were ambivalent about foster care as they were uncertain between altruistic feelings of making a difference in the lives of needy children against the negative outcomes of fostering. One biological child was negative about foster care. This participant did not like the idea of fostering and did not describe any personal positive outcomes resulting from his fostering experiences. The findings revealed that biological children are unable to voice out their views and ideas regarding foster care placement. The findings also revealed that biological children are not passive observers on how fostering influences their daily lives. Instead, they use strategies to influence fostering processes, especially to protect their foster siblings for the fostering process to be successful, while also having feelings of responsibility for their foster siblings. The findings further suggest that despite the complex nature of the fostering task, professionals should recognise and acknowledge the input of biological children to fostering. It is, therefore, suggested more training should be provided to foster parents to continually include the opinions of their own children in fostering decisions.

Abstract Keywords: Children, Parent, Foster Parents, Assisted Custody, Foster Family Care The present thesis aims are to find out what opinions and attitudes have foster parents to an assisted contact. Whether they are informed of the possibility of mediation, or how many children in foster care with their biological parent encounters. it should be examined how foster parents learnd about the possibility of assiseted contact and if the service is currently used, or whether it will be used by foster parents in the future. In this work we were determined by one question which is in the line with the target of the work. The question is: Are the foster parents having a child in foster care afraid of the loss of the child in relation to assisted contact? From a methodological point of view was applied qualitative research. Technology for field data collection was elected a semi-structured interview. The results were evaluated by cluster method. The results achieved in many parts coincide with literature, but new facts were also found. The research showed 7 clusters, which proved to be more common in the testimonies of the communication partners. The research was carried out thanks to probe into the lives of foster families, including the most intimate details of their life together. It was found that most foster parents do not distinguish foster care as a temporary treatment, but the child is perceived almost as an adopted child. It is difficult for them to think about the loss of a child or to meet a child with a biological parent. The outputs of the thesis can be used as a basis for further studies and research in this area. They can also be used as a teaching or supporting material in the subjects of social studies.

M.A. / Kinship families have cared for children on a full-time basis for thousands of years, and for many years it has been standard practice for welfare agencies to consider the placement of children with kin whenever it becomes necessary to find an alternative way of caring for them. Many welfare experts believe that children will be better served if their care is provided by family members rather than strangers and yet, ironically, little scientific research has been done by welfare agencies and researchers to assess the value of kinship foster placement. Research focusing specifically on black foster parents is very scant. Generally, the decision about the placement of children in kinship homes has been based primarily on the professional observation of social workers as opposed to information derived from research findings. Despite the apparent growth in the use of kinship foster care and the concomitant suspicions about its advisability, children are still being placed in kinship homes. Kinship foster care placement is advocated most by welfare agencies, without the practice having been scientifically assessed. This deficiency has left the field with little information on which to base work with kinship foster families. The main purpose of this study was therefore to gain knowledge and to analyse the facts pertaining to kinship foster placement, and to draw a profile of kinship foster families in the urban residential area of Vosloorus. Quantative descriptive methods were used in this study. The main concern of the study was to collect data in such a way that it could be systematically processed and interpreted reliably. A descriptive design was chosen, as explanations can be tested by means of research questions. Eight research questions were formulated and put to the test. Facts were also established by studying literature reviewing case records, and interviewing foster parents as well as social workers. The results of this study suggest that we have not scientifically thought the purpose and goals of placing children with relatives through, but we have done so on the bases of certain assumptions, that is, we have assumed that relatives would be more willing to care and provide for the children of relatives than those of non-relatives. The study has provided information about kinship foster care and foster family care, focusing on the demographic characteristics of kinship foster parents, the services received by kinship foster parents, the manner in which kinship foster children are treated and the issue of visits by case workers. This study has provided insight and knowledge upon which agencies can base their selection of kinship foster parents. The findings have been discussed, and recommendations offered for policy, practice and future research.

M.A. (Social Work) / The goals of this study were viewed as the development and evaluation of a parent-training programme for foster parents related to their foster children; that 1s, to apply programme evaluation to a newly-developed social technological item, in this case a specific preventive intervention parent-training programme. The researcher formulated the following objectives towards the achievement of these goals: to present a theoretical perspective on foster care, on the ecological approach which was utilized in the development of the programme, and on programme evaluation; to develop the programme envisaged utilising the DR & U (Development Research and Utilization) model of Edwin Thomas; to evaluate the programme by inviting a group of foster parents, related to their foster children, to participate in the evaluation phase with a view to: * broadening the knowledge and insight of the participants on their foster care situation; * developing a more positive self-concept for programme participants, through improved insight into their foster care situation; * enhancing foster child-foster parent relationships through improved insight into the foster care situation; * improving the family relationships of the programme participants.

A descriptive study was conducted to investigate the adoption experience within the family. Adoptive families who participated in this study were assumed to be a relatively heterogeneous sample of the target population - families with at least one adopted child who had been adopted early in life, and who was presently 14-18 years of age. Thirteen adoptive families participated in the study. Qualitative data regarding each individual's perception of the adoption experience was obtained through semi-structured interviews. Each participant also completed the Family Environment Scale (Moos, 1974), which was used as a descriptive measure only. Data from the interviews underwent a qualitative data analysis to arrive at the themes and patterns that described the adoptee's and the adoptive parents' experiences. Parent-child perceptual discrepancies were also analysed to assess the similarities and the differences in family perceptions regarding the adoption experience. Conclusions that can be drawn based on the results of the qualitative analysis is that adoptive families appear to be vulnerable to problems during the adolescent stage of the family life cycle because of the adoptee's emerging curiosity and the problems of openly communicating these concerns within the family. Results from this study also point to the need for adopting couples to receive education regarding the role of adoptive parenthood, and counsellors who work with adoptive families should be aware of when the factors of adoption can contribute to family difficulties and dysfunction / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate