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.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur yrkesverksamma upplever att barnperspektivet beaktas i ärenden där barn har minst en frihetsberövad förälder. Intervjuer med fem yrkesverksamma inom Kriminalvården, Socialtjänsten och Bufff (Barn och ungdom med förälder/familjemedlem i fängelse) har genomförts, samt analyserats med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Det framkom tre kategorier och sex subkategorier av analysen. Av resultatet framkom att det är av vikt att beakta ett barnperspektiv i ärenden där barn har minst en frihetsberövad förälder. I studien framkom också att de yrkesverksamma arbetar utefter barnet på olika sätt beroende på vilken aktör de arbetar inom. Samt att samverkan har en betydelse för hur arbetet kring dessa barn sker idag och i framtiden. Avsikten med studien är att bidra med en medvetenhet kring vikten av att se till vad som är bäst för barnet i ärenden där barn har minst en frihetsberövad förälder. Resultatet visar också på vilken betydelse yrkesverksammas arbete och utförande har för dessa barn. / The main purpose of this study was to examine how professionals experience that the child’s perspective is considered in cases where children have at least one parent in custody. Interviews with five professionals working within probation service, social service and ”Bufff” (Child and youth with parent/family member in custody) have been completed, and analysed using a qualitative content analysis. The analysis generated three categories and six sub-categories. Results show that it is of great importance to consider a child’s perspective in cases where children have at least one parent in custody. The study also shows that professionals work differently according to the child’s needs depending on the area in which they work, and that cooperation and communication is of great importance for how the work is handled today and hereafter. The intention of the study was to contribute with an awareness about the importance of looking at the child’s needs in cases where the child has at least one parent in custody. The results also show that the work and how it is performed is of great importance for these children.