Psychosocial well-being of Flemish foster children residing in their foster homes during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the lives of children and families all around the world, probably affecting children's psychosocial well-being. The negative consequences of lockdowns are presumed to hit even harder on vulnerable groups such as foster children who already struggle with their psychosocial well-being in normal circumstances and who face specific challenges during lockdowns such as: additional help that is no longer available or only offered digitally and physical contact with birth parents that is forbidden. Nevertheless, some scholars point to the positive side of lockdowns (e.g.: relief due to closure of schools). This study aims to asses the psychosocial well-being of Flemish foster children residing in their foster homes during the COVID-19 lockdown and the factors that are associated with the change in their psychosocial well-being. 888 foster parents reported on the psychosocial well-being of just as many foster children through the Brief Assessment Checklist for Children and Adolescents. The COVID-19 lockdown was not associated with a decreased psychosocial well-being of Flemish foster children residing in their foster homes during the lockdown. Foster parents reported a slight improvement in their relationship with their foster child during the lockdown which points to a positive consequence of the lockdown. In addition, this improvement was positively associated with an increased psychosocial well-being during adverse circumstances and should therefore be enhanced. The type and amount of contact with birth parents is significantly associated with foster children's changed psychosocial well-being during the lockdown. Foster parents who reported an increase in alternative contact (e.g., (video)calls and messages) between their foster child and his/her birth parent(s) during the lockdown, also reported an increase in their foster child's psychosocial well-being during that period.

Child abuse and neglect in Brussels during the COVID-19-lockdown.

BACKGROUND: It is likely that the circumstances during the COVID-19-lockdown in Belgium increased the incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect (CAN) due to exacerbated risk factors and new COVID-19-related stressors. However, traditional reporters had less contact with children which could lead to undetected cases of CAN. OBJECTIVE: Gain insight into the number and profile of CAN reports filed to the Brussels Confidential Center of Child Abuse and Neglect (CCCAN) during the COVID-19-lockdown. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A dataset comprising 536 CAN reports from periods before (N = 442) and during the lockdown (N = 94). METHODS: Characteristics about the report, reporter, victim and his/her family, perpetrator(s) and the trajectory with the CCCAN were registered. The number and characteristics of reports during the lockdown were compared to those of reports before the lockdown. RESULTS: The number of advisory questions (p = .506, d = .377) and allegations (p = .095, d = 1.206) remained unchanged. During the lockdown, the risk assessment of advisory questions was higher (p = .011, d = .280), they evolved more into social exigency investigations (p < .001, φ = .246) and were referred more often to judicial authorities (p = .010, φ = .163). Allegations were filed more often by the helpline, police and judicial authorities (p < .001, φ = .590) during the lockdown and involved more Dutch-speaking (p = .016, φ = .166) victims. CONCLUSIONS: The number of CAN reports remained the same during the lockdown but their profile changed.

Secondary traumatic stress, burnout and compassion satisfaction among Flemish foster care workers during the COVID-19 lockdown

This study examines secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout and compassion satisfaction (CS) in Flemish foster care workers (FCW) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even though child welfare workers are at increased risk for STS and burnout, these constructs have not been studied in FCW so far. Additionally, the COVID-19 measures severely impacted Flemish FCW’s work, personal and client environment, possibly stimulating the onset of STS and burnout and weakening CS. Moreover, this study aims to identify the work, client and personal factors determining high levels of STS and burnout and low levels of CS among FCW during the lockdown. STS, burnout and CS levels from 434 Flemish FCW were inquired with the Professional Quality of Life Scale. Low mean levels of STS and moderate mean levels of burnout and CS were reported during the lockdown. FCW who experienced a negative impact of COVID-19 measures on their work, had a high amount of worrisome placements due to birth parents in their caseload and low emotional stability are an at-risk group for both STS and burnout during the lockdown. CS was strongly determined by the impact of the COVID-19 measures on work and personality traits. Emotional stability determined the three outcome variables, making this a key characteristics for FCW during the lockdown. Consequently, during adverse circumstances, foster care agencies should pay extra attention and offer additional support to those FCW they estimate emotionally less stable and who struggle with the birth parents in their caseload.