Family bonds of foster children. A qualitative research regarding the experience of foster children in long-term foster care

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2020-12, Vol.119, p.105593, Article 105593
• Main Authors: Van Holen, Frank, Clé, Ann, West, Delphine, Gypen, Laura, Vanderfaeillie, Johan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child development; Child placement; Families & family life; Family; Family foster care; Family of origin; Foster care; Foster children; Foster child’s perspective; Foster family; Kinship care; Loyalty; Qualitative research; Siblings
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105593

•Foster children’s view of the concept family is pragmatic and open-minded.•Foster children believe they fare better in their foster than in their birth family.•The relationship of foster children with their birth family is complex.•Parental visits are frequently overshadowed by conflicts and problems.•Siblings have a prominent place for foster children. This qualitative research describes how 27 foster children, aged 12–18 years placed in long-term family foster care, experience the concept ‘family’. Foster children had a pragmatic and open-minded view of the concept ‘family’, transcending the conventional definition of kinship. In general, they were remarkably satisfied with the foster family and considered them as real family. They often believed that they fared better in their foster family than in their family of origin. The presence of other children in the foster family was usually perceived as positive. The relationship with their birth family was complex. Although sometimes considered as no longer belonging to their family, foster children in general spoke about their parents with loyalty and eagerness to forgive. But they were also concerned, sad, and angry. During visits often fun activities were done, although frequently overshadowed by conflicts and problems. Siblings had a prominent place, although the foster care placement sometimes troubled contacts between siblings. Creating a context in which foster family and family of origin can contribute to a positive development of the foster child is an important task for foster care workers.