Foster parents are a vital component to the child welfare system and play an important role, one of which is supervising parental visitation (Muniz, 2018; Neil et al., 2003). With visitation as the primary intervention for family reunification (Haight et al., 2003), foster parents and birth parents are more than likely to interact with one another at some point in time. The purpose of this research study was to examine if foster parent attitudes toward birth parents influence foster parent attitudes toward birth parent visitation. Data was collected from 40 participants, 36 females and 4 males, from a foster family agency based in California and Texas. The study used a survey design and questions were distributed in a group setting, a mailed hard-copy, and a web survey link. The study’s findings revealed that that when foster parents had a more positive attitude toward birth parents, they had a more positive attitude toward birth parent visitation. The study concludes with recommendations for public child welfare agencies and foster family agencies to develop trainings for foster parents and for social workers to increase efforts in assisting foster parents and birth parents build cooperative relationships.

Återförening är en del av det sociala arbetets uppgifter och är en förutsättning för att föräldrar och deras placerade barn ska kunna återförenas. Trots detta, är återförening ett outforskat eller ett begränsat område. Syftet med denna studie har därför varit att undersöka återförening med hjälp av två forskningsfrågor. Metoden som har använts är en scoping-review av 15 peer-reviewed artiklar. Det första syftet med studien var att undersöka vilka faktorer som begränsar eller möjliggör återförening mellan föräldrar och deras placerade barn. Studiens resultat visar att föräldrar, familjehemsföräldrar och socialarbetare är faktorer som både utgör hinder och möjligheter till en återförening. Det andra syftet var att undersöka vilka olika stödformer som främjar kontakten mellan föräldrar och deras familjehemsplacerade barn. Studiens resultat visade att det krävs känslomässigt och praktiskt stöd till föräldrar för att kunna hålla kontakt med sina placerade barn. Föräldrar som har kontakt med sina barn ökar enbart inte sannolikheten för en återförening, utan är även viktig för både föräldrars och barns välbefinnande, oavsett placering. Forskningen visade att det ofta var svårt för föräldrar att hålla kontakt med sina barn av flera olika anledningar. Socialarbetare behöver både öka sin förståelse för föräldrar till familjehemsplacerade barn och samarbeta med olika aktörer. Trots resultatet har det blivit tydligt att föräldrar till familjehemsplacerade barn och återförening är ett område som kräver ytterligare forskning. Detta för att belysa föräldrar och belysa vilka faktorer socialarbetare behöver arbeta med för att leva upp till sina uppdrag. / Reunification is one of the tasks of social work and is a prerequisite for the reunification of parents and their children in care. Despite this, reunification is an unexplored or limited area. The aim of this study has therefore been to investigate reunification by means of two research questions. The method used is a scoping review of 15 peer-reviewed articles. The first aim of the study was to investigate the factors that limit or enable reunification between parents and their placed children. The results of the study show that parents, foster parents and social workers are factors that constitute both obstacles and opportunities for reunification. The second aim was to investigate the different forms of support that promote contact between parents and their children in foster care. The results of the study showed that parents need emotional and practical support to maintain contact with their foster children. Parents having contact with their children not only increases the likelihood of reunification, but is also important for the well-being of both parents and children, regardless of placement. The research showed that it was often difficult for parents to maintain contact with their children for a variety of reasons. Social workers need to both increase their understanding of parents of children in foster care and collaborate with different stakeholders. Despite the findings, it has become clear that parents of foster children and reunification is an area that requires further research. This is to shed light on parents and highlight what factors social workers need to work with to fulfill their mission.

Against the background of evidence that parent involvement benefits learners, parents, schools and communities, a need has arisen for effective parent involvment strategies to be developed particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. A literature study investigated models of parent involvementand the provision of education in North West Province. Barriers to parent involvement in schools were also investigated. A qualitative methodology was used to investigate parent involvement in three rural schools in North West Province. Data were gathered by means of observation, semi-structures focus group interviews with parents and educators and semi-structures in-depth interviewswith principals of participating schools. Thus parents and educators blame each other for lack of participation. Other findings relate to the lack of resources and facilities in schools. Guidelines for proper parent involvement were proposed. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Comparative Education)

Against the background of evidence that parent involvement benefits learners, parents, schools and communities, a need has arisen for effective parent involvment strategies to be developed particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. A literature study investigated models of parent involvementand the provision of education in North West Province. Barriers to parent involvement in schools were also investigated. A qualitative methodology was used to investigate parent involvement in three rural schools in North West Province. Data were gathered by means of observation, semi-structures focus group interviews with parents and educators and semi-structures in-depth interviewswith principals of participating schools. Thus parents and educators blame each other for lack of participation. Other findings relate to the lack of resources and facilities in schools. Guidelines for proper parent involvement were proposed. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Comparative Education)

The thesis is devoted to the topic of preparatory courses for applicants for foster care. The aim of the thesis is to chart the course of professional preparation of future foster parents and replenish their subjective opinions. The theoretical part refers to the current legislative changes affecting the area of foster care in the Czech republic. It also deals with topics closely related to foster care, such as kinship care, contact with the biological parents or the identity of children in foster care. The following section is focused on the analysis of available training programs for foster parents, their specifics and the related methodological recommendations of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. Practical work was supported by DC Paprsek. By the form of semi-structured interviews with applicants for foster care was studied their subjective view of the importance and effectiveness of training courses.