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Abstract
In Spain research has been conducted into the outcomes of foster care, although there is a need for further analysis, especially as regards the variables associated with placement disruption. In 2008 (T1) was collated information on all foster placements that were registered in three Spanish provinces. In 2014 (T2), data were gathered by reviewing the children's case notes and through interviews with the social worker responsible for each case. The resulting sample comprised 104 non-kinship foster children in long-term foster care who were being fostered in 86 families. The results obtained at T2 showed that the percentage of children who were still living with the same family (68.3%) was greater than the proportion of children whose circumstances had changed (31.7%). The social workers considered that placement disruption had occurred in 27 of the 33 cases. One of the main finding was placement disruption was associated with the older age at the time of being fostered and the emotional relationship quality between children and foster carers. A regression analysis showed that low levels of warmth and communication in the relationship between child and foster carers were shown to be a predictor of placement breakdown. Implications for practice are discussed.
En España se han llevado a cabo diferentes estudios sobre el acogimiento familiar, aunque son necesarios más estudios sobre el tema, especialmente analizando las variables asociadas con el cese de los acogimientos. En el año 2008 (T1) se recogió información sobre todos los acogimientos registrados en tres provincias españolas. En 2014 (T2) se revisaron los casos y se entrevistó a los profesionales responsables de los mismos. La muestra estuvo formada por 104 niños y niñas que estaban en acogimiento familiar permanente con 86 familias. Los resultados obtenidos en T2 mostraron que el 68.3% de los niños y niñas seguían viviendo en la misma familia acogedora, mientras que el 31.7% de ellos había cambiado de situación. Según la valoración de los profesionales, de los 33 casos que ya no convivían con la misma familia acogedora, en 27 se había producido la ruptura del acogimiento. Uno de los principales resultados fue que la ruptura del acogimiento se asoció con la mayor edad de los niños y niñas en el inicio del acogimiento y con la calidad de la relación emocional entre los niños y los acogedores. Mediante un análisis de regresión se mostró que el bajo nivel de afecto y comunicación entre los niños y los acogedores predijo la ruptura del acogimiento. Se discuten las implicaciones para la práctica del acogimiento.
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Acknowledgements
Information about the foster placements was obtained in collaboration with Infant Protection Services and Families of the Provincial Delegation for Social Welfare and the foster care agencies.
Ethical approval
The research was approved by the Research Committee of the Faculty of Psychology (University of Malaga). In addition, all those involved (Child and Family Protection Services, teachers, foster carers and social workers) expressed their acceptance of the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Dr Isabel María Bernedo: Ph.D. in Psychology (With distinction), University of Málaga (2005). Title of thesis: Adolescents in foster care with their grandparents: Family relationships and behaviour problems. Lecturer at the Department of Educational and Developmental Psychology of the University of Málaga since 2005. Participation in teaching activities in Psychology and Social Education degrees, as well as in several master degrees about social intervention and child welfare. Research areas: Preadoptive foster care, family foster care, parenting style and behaviour problems. Research papers published, among others, in Children and Youth Services Review, Psicothema, Spanish Journal of Psychology, Journal of Intergenerational Relationships or Psychological Writings.
Dr Miguel A. García-Martín: Ph.D. in Psychology (With distinction), University of Málaga (2000). His teaching undergraduate activities are focused on the application of psychology to the research and psychosocial intervention with socially disadvantaged groups (i.e. ‘Psychology applied to Social Work’, or ‘Social Services Psychology’). His research interests are partly focused in Social services for children and their families in risk of social exclusion. Some of his research works are published in the following journals: Social Indicators Research, Children and Youth Services Review, Activities, Adaptation & Aging, Journal of Women and Aging, Salud (i) Ciencia, or Psicologia di Comunitá.
Dr María D. Salas: Ph.D. in Psychology (With European distinction), University of Málaga (2011). Title of thesis: Children's adaptation to family foster care. Master degree in Research and Community Social Intervention. Postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Educational and Developmental Psychology of the University of Málaga since 2012. Participation in teaching activities in the Psychology degree of the University of Málaga. Research areas: Family foster care, parenting style and behaviour problems. Research stays in the University of Bristol (England) and the University of Delaware (USA). Part of her research has been published in Children and Youth Services Review, Infancia y Aprendizaje and Psychological Writings.
María J. Fuentes: Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Salamanca (1988). Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Málaga since 2009. Head of Department of Educational and Developmental Psychology since 1995–1999. Nowadays she leads research projects funded by the Spanish government in the area of Adoption and Fostering. She takes part in several master degrees and postgraduate doctoral programmes related to social intervention in children under the care of the child protection system. Research papers published, among others, in Children and Youth Services Review, Psicothema, Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, Spanish Journal of Psychology or Psychological Writings.