Many homeless youth come from foster homes, group homes, and other forms of substitute care. For young people in the child welfare system, elopement represents a major problem as it places them at risk for a number of troubling outcomes. Three studies were undertaken examining elopement among young people living in substitute care in Canada and the United States. The first study explored strengths and needs in a sample of 5,011 children and youth housed in a variety of substitute care settings including foster homes, group homes, residential treatment centres, emergency shelters, and juvenile justice facilities. Results indicated that needs, but not strengths, predicted running among children, while both needs and strengths predicted running among adolescents. Problems with school attendance, substance abuse, and delinquency also predicted running among both children and adolescents, with the exception of young children, for whom substance abuse was not a significant predictor. The second study explored the relationship between trauma, strengths, and elopement in a sample of 2,296 adolescents living in substitute care. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, school violence, and traumatic grief/separation were found to predict elopement. In addition, family violence and community violence predicted running among younger but not older adolescents. Educational strengths predicted a lower risk of running away for all adolescents, while well-being and relationship permanence predicted a lower risk of running among younger and older adolescents, respectively. The impact of strengths on the relationship between trauma and elopement was evaluated, with results suggesting that elopement was not predicted by an interaction between strengths and trauma. The third study was qualitative in nature and explored the perspectives of youth who had run away from substitute care at least once in their lifetime. Youth provided information about their experiences as well as suggestions designed to reduce the prevalence of running away among youth in substitute care. Findings for all three studies were discussed in relation to the literature with implications for research and prevention.

Many homeless youth come from foster homes, group homes, and other forms of substitute care. For young people in the child welfare system, elopement represents a major problem as it places them at risk for a number of troubling outcomes. Three studies were undertaken examining elopement among young people living in substitute care in Canada and the United States. The first study explored strengths and needs in a sample of 5,011 children and youth housed in a variety of substitute care settings including foster homes, group homes, residential treatment centres, emergency shelters, and juvenile justice facilities. Results indicated that needs, but not strengths, predicted running among children, while both needs and strengths predicted running among adolescents. Problems with school attendance, substance abuse, and delinquency also predicted running among both children and adolescents, with the exception of young children, for whom substance abuse was not a significant predictor. The second study explored the relationship between trauma, strengths, and elopement in a sample of 2,296 adolescents living in substitute care. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, school violence, and traumatic grief/separation were found to predict elopement. In addition, family violence and community violence predicted running among younger but not older adolescents. Educational strengths predicted a lower risk of running away for all adolescents, while well-being and relationship permanence predicted a lower risk of running among younger and older adolescents, respectively. The impact of strengths on the relationship between trauma and elopement was evaluated, with results suggesting that elopement was not predicted by an interaction between strengths and trauma. The third study was qualitative in nature and explored the perspectives of youth who had run away from substitute care at least once in their lifetime. Youth provided information about their experiences as well as suggestions designed to reduce the prevalence of running away among youth in substitute care. Findings for all three studies were discussed in relation to the literature with implications for research and prevention.

Children often need to be placed in substitute care as the result of inadequate carers / parents who abuse and mistreat them. Children in substitute care find it very difficult to adapt to mo re positive circumstances and therefore display difficult behaviour. T he substitute carers therefore experience difficulty in handling these children, which often results in the children needing to be placed again. It seems as if the way in which a child attaches to the primary caregiver in their early years can determine how this child will function later in life. T he secure attachment process is the foundation on which further positive relationships with other people and with the child him/herself are built. There are clear similarities between behavioural and emotional problems and early mother separation. It appears that there is a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the origin of these problems as well as with regard to correct approaches to such problems. The substitute carers need to be supported in order to understand t he children, and therefore it is neccessary to suppor the carers in ways to build attachments between the carer and child. Goals: The primary aim of this study is to determine what kind of knowledge and equipment the substitute carers need in order to provide in the necessary attachment needs of the children in their care. Method: Research was conducted by means of the qualitative method. Information was gathered through the semi-structured interview method, questionnaires were sent to carers, and observations were made during the intervening period. An independent professional person was used to perform t he assessments and to verify the results of the assessment and research. Triangulation of the research was done. Results: Results of the research were as follows: Although the research follows a qualitative approach, hypotheses are formulated which can be used for further dissectation regarding the provision in attachment needs of middle childhood phase children who are in substitute care / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Children often need to be placed in substitute care as the result of inadequate carers / parents who abuse and mistreat them. Children in substitute care find it very difficult to adapt to mo re positive circumstances and therefore display difficult behaviour. T he substitute carers therefore experience difficulty in handling these children, which often results in the children needing to be placed again. It seems as if the way in which a child attaches to the primary caregiver in their early years can determine how this child will function later in life. T he secure attachment process is the foundation on which further positive relationships with other people and with the child him/herself are built. There are clear similarities between behavioural and emotional problems and early mother separation. It appears that there is a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the origin of these problems as well as with regard to correct approaches to such problems. The substitute carers need to be supported in order to understand t he children, and therefore it is neccessary to suppor the carers in ways to build attachments between the carer and child. Goals: The primary aim of this study is to determine what kind of knowledge and equipment the substitute carers need in order to provide in the necessary attachment needs of the children in their care. Method: Research was conducted by means of the qualitative method. Information was gathered through the semi-structured interview method, questionnaires were sent to carers, and observations were made during the intervening period. An independent professional person was used to perform t he assessments and to verify the results of the assessment and research. Triangulation of the research was done. Results: Results of the research were as follows: Although the research follows a qualitative approach, hypotheses are formulated which can be used for further dissectation regarding the provision in attachment needs of middle childhood phase children who are in substitute care / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Many homeless youth come from foster homes, group homes, and other forms of substitute care. For young people in the child welfare system, elopement represents a major problem as it places them at risk for a number of troubling outcomes. Three studies were undertaken examining elopement among young people living in substitute care in Canada and the United States. The first study explored strengths and needs in a sample of 5,011 children and youth housed in a variety of substitute care settings including foster homes, group homes, residential treatment centres, emergency shelters, and juvenile justice facilities. Results indicated that needs, but not strengths, predicted running among children, while both needs and strengths predicted running among adolescents. Problems with school attendance, substance abuse, and delinquency also predicted running among both children and adolescents, with the exception of young children, for whom substance abuse was not a significant predictor. The second study explored the relationship between trauma, strengths, and elopement in a sample of 2,296 adolescents living in substitute care. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, school violence, and traumatic grief/separation were found to predict elopement. In addition, family violence and community violence predicted running among younger but not older adolescents. Educational strengths predicted a lower risk of running away for all adolescents, while well-being and relationship permanence predicted a lower risk of running among younger and older adolescents, respectively. The impact of strengths on the relationship between trauma and elopement was evaluated, with results suggesting that elopement was not predicted by an interaction between strengths and trauma. The third study was qualitative in nature and explored the perspectives of youth who had run away from substitute care at least once in their lifetime. Youth provided information about their experiences as well as suggestions designed to reduce the prevalence of running away among youth in substitute care. Findings for all three studies were discussed in relation to the literature with implications for research and prevention.

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This dissertation is concerned with the issues surrounding substitute family care in the Czech Republic and presents an analysis of its legal regulation as set out in both private law and public law regulations. The term substitute family care encompasses several independent legal institutions, which together form a system serving to protect children at risk who cannot grow up in their own family. The system of substitute care is divided into family-type individual care on the one hand and collective care provided in institutional facilities on the other. This dissertation examines the historical development of forms of substitute care, analyses their current legal regulation, including procedural regulation, and evaluates the interconnectedness and mutual harmoniousness of individual legal regulations. It analyses the inner workings of the substitute care system and delineates the rights and obligations of entities which enter into it in various capacities, with an emphasis on how the fulfilment of the rights of a minor is enforced and how their best interest is considered. Given the subject matter, the topic of the dissertation is approached in an interdisciplinary fashion, for the interdisciplinary cooperation of individual persons acting on behalf of the state in the legal relations of...

(in English) Thesis deals with biological children of parents, who have other kids in foster care. These kids are often neglected. In the theoretical part are described and defined terms such as a substitute foster family and its forms, family, siblings. It focuses also on selected foreing researches and contemporary Czech works on this topic. Practical part contains analyzes of interviews with respondents. The main aim was to find out what biological children of their parents in general think of foster care. How they perceive the situation in their own family and how it affects them.

The diploma thesis focuses on the topic of leaving alternative care and it is divided into two parts. In the first theoretical part I describe the system of alternative care in the Czech Republic, its division and definition. I also deal with the termination of care, preparation for independence and the last are forms of assistance and aftercare services. In the practical part, the subject of my interest will be the readiness of young people after the end of alternative care. Through a semi-structured interview, I will find out how they are doing in various areas that are important for independence. In the final part, I summarize the results of the research, which will be provided with commentary. Keywords Substitute care, family, foster care, institutional education, preparation for independent living, after-care services

The thesis looks at issues regarding the life of children growing up in children's homes. Theoretical part focuses on child, family, its functions and behavioural disorders in family that often result in violence against children and may lead to institutional childcare. The section regarding behavioural disorders in family is followed by a description of specific aspects of social and legal protection of children. Solutions and possibilities provided by State or other organizations for at-risk children are described. There is also a description of substitute care institutions. Finally, the most frequent reasons for placement of children in children's homes are listed, including risks that may result from leaving such institutions. Practical part of the thesis looks at young people growing up in children's homes. Children´s life in such institutions was mapped using qualitative research. The main objective was to answer to the research questions in order to get a better understanding of issues regarding children placed in children's homes.