Foster children's perspectives on participation in child welfare processes: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

• Published in: PloS one 2022-10, Vol.17 (10), p.e0275784
• Main Authors: McTavish, Jill R, McKee, Christine, MacMillan, Harriet L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Child; Child abuse & neglect; Child Welfare; Child, Foster; Children; Content analysis; Decision making; Developing countries; Drug use; Evaluation; Families & family life; Foster care; Foster children; Foster Home Care; Humans; Income; Information professionals; Kinship; Kinship care; LDCs; Low income groups; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Neutrality; Participation; People and Places; Qualitative Research; Research and Analysis Methods; Self report; Social Sciences; Synthesis
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275784

The objective of this meta-synthesis was to systematically synthesise qualitative research that explores foster children's perspectives on participation in child welfare processes. Searches were conducted in Medline (OVID), Embase, PsycINFO, and Social Science Citation Index. Children in non-kinship foster care in any setting (high-income, middle-income, low-income countries) who self-reported their experiences of care (removal from home, foster family processes, placement breakdown) were eligible for inclusion. Selected studies took place in 11 high-income countries. A total of 8436 citations were identified and 25 articles were included in this meta-synthesis. Studies summarized the views of 376 children. Children had been in foster care between two weeks and 17 years. Findings synthesize 'facets' of children's participation (e.g., being asked vs making decisions), as well as children's perceived barriers and facilitators to participation. A main priority for children was the quality of their relationships, especially in terms of values (e.g., fairness, honesty, inclusivity). No one way of participating in child welfare processes is better than another, as some children more clearly expressed a desire for passive listening roles and others indicated a desire for active roles in decision-making. However, meaningful adults in foster children's lives have a responsibility to act in a way that strengthens the emphasis on children's needs and voices.