"You think lots of love will heal the child, but it requires a lifetime of patience". Foster parents' intrapersonal and interpersonal struggles.

BACKGROUND: Foster parents can be placed under significant demands when caring for foster children with extensive needs. Coming to terms with the challenges they have to face can be a daunting prospect. To examine foster parents' experiences is vital with a view to enhancing their resilience amid sustained demands and improving the professional support offered to them. OBJECTIVE: This study explores foster parents' lived experience of caring for foster children with mental illness and attachment difficulties. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: Twenty-two foster parents, caring for foster children aged 2-17, were recruited from a mental health clinic providing assessment and treatment to children. METHODS: In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed using a descriptive phenomenological psychological approach. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed four interrelated constituents describing the foster parents' experiences: 1) Wanting to help a child, 2) Adjustments were harder than expected, 3) Sacrifices and suppression of needs, and 4) Commitment and love mixed with ambivalence. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that being a foster parent for children with mental illness and attachment difficulties demands heightened patience, knowledge and understanding. It also involves a substantial emotional investment. This underscores the importance of addressing feelings of love, shame, and guilt in this context. Balancing the needs of the foster child with the well-being of the foster family can be challenging. Foster parents may need extensive support from professionals who are familiar with their unique circumstances to increase their feeling of self-efficacy and reduce ambivalent feelings regarding their role as caregivers.

The impact of daily affective touch on cortisol levels in institutionalized & fostered children.

Institutionalized children are often deprived of affective touch. Such tactile deprivation often leads to constant stress, as measured by the levels of salivary cortisol. We report here the impact of an affective touch program, optimized to activate a specific population of unmyelinated mechanosensitive nerves in the skin called c-tactile afferents (CT) on stress resistance. Two populations of children (age 4-10) were recruited: (i) a cohort living in an orphanage and (ii) a fostered cohort. Both groups received the affective touch program daily for 10-15 min for 5-6 weeks. A cohort of age-matched children living in a family environment acted as a control group and did not receive any instructions for tactile stimulation. Salivary cortisol was collected at the beginning (T1) and at the end (T2) of the study in all three groups. For institutionalized and fostered children there was a significant improvement in the level of cortisol (p < 0.0001) between T1 and T2, which is manifested in the balancing cortisol levels: a decrease where it was elevated and an increase, where the critically low level testified to the distress of the child. Balancing cortisol levels is a process of recovery to normal values, which indicates the restoration of neurohumoral mechanisms of stress regulation. The effect of balancing cortisol levels was more pronounced in the group of fostered children compared to the group of orphanage children (p = 0.0326). The children in the control group had no significant differences.

Systematic Review of the Evaluation of Foster Care Programs.

OBJETIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct an exhaustive synthesis to determine which instruments and variables are most appropriate to evaluate foster care programs (foster, kinship, and professional families). This evaluation includes the children, their foster families, their families of origin, professionals, and foster care technicians. METHOD: The systematic review included randomized, quasi-randomized, longitudinal, and control group studies aimed at evaluating foster care interventions. RESULTS: A total of 86 studies, 138 assessment instruments, 18 constructs, and 73 independent research teams were identified. CONCLUSIONS: (1) although the object of the evaluations was the children, the informants were usually the people in charge of their care; therefore, effort should be made to involve the children in a more participatory way; (2) psychosocial functioning, behavior, and parenting are transversal elements in most evaluations, while quality of life and coping are not sufficiently well incorporated; (3) practical instruments (brief and easy to apply and correct) that are widely used and carry scientific guarantees should be prioritized to ensure the comparability and reliability of the conclusions; and (4) progress should be made in the study of evaluation models for all forms of foster care, including foster, extended, and specialized families.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo es realizar una síntesis exhaustiva que contribuya a determinar qué instrumentos y variables son las más adecuadas para evaluar programas de acogimiento familiar (familias extensas, ajenas y profesionalizadas), incluyendo en esta evaluación a los niños, sus familias acogedoras, sus familias de origen y a los profesionales y técnicos del acogimiento familiar. Método: La revisión sistemática incluyó estudios aleatorizados, cuasialeatorizados, longitudinales y con grupo control dirigidos a evaluar intervenciones de acogimiento familiar. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 86 estudios, 138 instrumentos de evaluación, 18 constructos y 73 equipos de investigación independientes. CONCLUSIONES: (1) aunque el objeto de las evaluaciones sean los niños, habitualmente los informantes son las personas a cargo de sus cuidados, con lo que se debe hacer un esfuerzo por involucrarlos de forma más participativa; (2) el funcionamiento psicosocial, el comportamiento o la parentalidad son elementos transversales en la mayor parte de evaluaciones, sin embargo la calidad de vida y el afrontamiento no están suficientemente bien incorporados; (3) deben priorizarse instrumentos prácticos (breves y fáciles de aplicar y corregir), de amplio uso y con garantías científicas para asegurar la comparabilidad y fiabilidad de las conclusiones; (4) debe avanzarse en la investigación de modelos de evaluación en todas las modalidades de acogimiento familiar, ya sea en familias ajenas, extensas o especializadas.

Systematic Review of the Evaluation of Foster Care Programs / [Revisión sistemática sobre evaluación de programas de acogimiento familiar]

Objetive: The aim of this study was to conduct an exhaustive synthesis to determine which instruments and variables are most appropriate to evaluate foster care programs (foster, kinship, and professional families). This evaluation includes the children, their foster families, their families of origin, professionals, and foster care technicians. Method: The systematic review included randomized, quasi-randomized, longitudinal, and control group studies aimed at evaluating foster care interventions. Results: A total of 86 studies, 138 assessment instruments, 18 constructs, and 73 independent research teams were identified. Conclusions: (1) although the object of the evaluations was the children, the informants were usually the people in charge of their care; therefore, effort should be made to involve the children in a more participatory way; (2) psychosocial functioning, behavior, and parenting are transversal elements in most evaluations, while quality of life and coping are not sufficiently well incorporated; (3) practical instruments (brief and easy to apply and correct) that are widely used and carry scientific guarantees should be prioritized to ensure the comparability and reliability of the conclusions; and (4) progress should be made in the study of evaluation models for all forms of foster care, including foster, extended, and specialized families.(AU)

Objetivo: El objetivo es realizar una síntesis exhaustiva que contribuya a determinar qué instrumentos y variables son las más adecuadas para evaluar programas de acogimiento familiar (familias extensas, ajenas y profesionalizadas), incluyendo en esta evaluación a los niños, sus familias acogedoras, sus familias de origen y a los profesionales y técnicos del acogimiento familiar. Método: La revisión sistemática incluyó estudios aleatorizados, cuasialeatorizados, longitudinales y con grupo control dirigidos a evaluar intervenciones de acogimiento familiar. Resultados: Se identificaron 86 estudios, 138 instrumentos de evaluación, 18 constructos y 73 equipos de investigación independientes. Conclusiones: (1) aunque el objeto de las evaluaciones sean los niños, habitualmente los informantes son las personas a cargo de sus cuidados, con lo que se debe hacer un esfuerzo por involucrarlos de forma más participativa; (2) el funcionamiento psicosocial, el comportamiento o la parentalidad son elementos transversales en la mayor parte de evaluaciones, sin embargo la calidad de vida y el afrontamiento no están suficientemente bien incorporados; (3) deben priorizarse instrumentos prácticos (breves y fáciles de aplicar y corregir), de amplio uso y con garantías científicas para asegurar la comparabilidad y fiabilidad de las conclusiones; (4) debe avanzarse en la investigación de modelos de evaluación en todas las modalidades de acogimiento familiar, ya sea en familias ajenas, extensas o especializadas.(AU)

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-efficacy scores and intensity of depressiveness in people aged over 60 years providing kinship foster care.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study has been to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had impact on self-efficacy scores and intensity of depressive severity in people aged over 60 who provide kinship foster care to their grandchildren. METHODS: The study subjects were selected from among individuals aged over 60 years providing kinship foster care to their grand-children. The participants were asked to complete the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) before and during the pandemic. The questionnaire was com-pleted in whole twice by 40 participants. RESULTS: There are no statistically significant differences between the GSE and GDS scores obtained before and during the pandemic. In study subjects with the oldest child in foster care aged 10 years or less, the GDS score decreased in a statistically sig-nificant way (p = 0.03). The correlation coefficient of the GSE and GDS scores before the pandemic was - 0.46 (p = 0.003), while that of scores during the pandemic was - 0.43 (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Neither the sense of self-efficacy nor the intensity of depressiveness of the study subjects changed significantly during the pandemic. Both before and during the pandemic, the increase in depressiveness was associated with a decrease in self-efficacy.

The Health Care Trajectories of Older People in Foster Families: Protocol for an Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: With aging of the population, the search for alternative models of care adapted to older people with dependency is necessary. In this setting, foster families (1-3 older people per family) could be an alternative to nursing homes, residential care facilities, or community- and home-based care. OBJECTIVE: The KArukera Study of Ageing in Foster Families is a prospective cohort study designed to investigate the care pathways of older people with dependency in foster care over a year. The 1-year hospitalization rate (main objective), cost of hospitalization, incidence of mortality, prevalence of geriatric syndromes, and quality of life of residents will be assessed. Quality of life and burnout of their respective foster caregivers will also be studied. METHODS: This study cohort will include 250 older people living in foster families in Guadeloupe (French West Indies), as well as their respective foster caregivers. Both older people and caregivers will be interviewed concurrently on site at three time points: (1) at baseline, (2) at 6 months, and (3) at 12 months. For older people, we will collect anthropometric measures, cognitive impairment, depressive and anxiety symptoms, functional abilities, physical frailty, information on general health status, quality of life, and care pathways (hospitalization, mortality, and medical and paramedical consultations). We will also assess the quality of life and burnout symptoms of family caregivers at each follow-up. A phone update of vital status (alive or death) and care pathways of residents will be carried out at 3 and 9 months after the baseline examination. RESULTS: Recruitment opened in September 2020 and ended in May 2021, with 109 older people recruited and 56 respective foster caregivers. The 1-year follow-up was ended in June 2022. Data analyses are ongoing and the first results are expected to be published in May 2023. CONCLUSIONS: Foster families are a potentially innovative way to accommodate dependent older people. This study could help define the clinical profile of older people adapted to foster families in the transition from frailty to dependency. The effectiveness of foster families, in terms of hospitalizations and mortality, will be compared with other models of care, particularly nursing homes. In this setting, a twin study carried out in nursing homes in Guadeloupe with similar aims and outcomes will be conducted. Beyond mortality and morbidity, the numerous outcomes will allow us to assess the evolution of geriatric syndromes over time. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04545775; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04545775. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/40604.

Altruismo y apego en madres y padres de acogida: un estudio piloto / Altruisme i aferrament a mares i pares d'acollida: un estudi pilot / Altruism and attachment in foster parents: a pilot study

El objetivo del artículo es valorar las variables de altruismo y apego en padres y madres de acogida en familia ajena. El estudio piloto muestra los resultados de los 71 primeros casos (41 mujeres y 30 hombres) de una investigación que está en proceso, cuyos participantes residen en Barcelona (capital y provincia) y presentan edades comprendidas entre 40 y 68 años. La mayor parte de esta tiene estudios superiores, está casada y tiene algún hijo biológico. Para la recopilación de datos se utilizaron dos escalas cuantitativas: Cuestionario de Apego Adulto (Melero y Cantero, 2008) y Escala de Prosociabilidad Caprara (Caprara, Steca, Zelly y Campanna, 2005).(AU)

The article aims to assess the variables of altruism and attachment in foster parents. The pilot study shows the results of the first 71 cases (41 women and 30 men) of an investigation that is in progress, whose participants live in Barcelona (capital and province) and are aged between 40 and 68 years. Most of them have a University degree, are married, and have a biological child. Two quantitative scales were used for data collection: the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (Melero and Cantero, 2008) and the Caprara Prosociability Scale (Caprara, Steca, Zelly, and Campanna, 2005).(AU)

L’objectiu de l’article és valorar les variables d’altruisme i aferrament en pares i mares d’acollida en família aliena. L'estudi pilot mostra els resultats dels 71 primers casos (41 dones i 30 homes) d'una investigació que està en procés, els participants de la qual resideixen a Barcelona (capital i província) i presenten edats compreses entre 40 i 68 anys. La majoria té estudis superiors, estan casats i té algun fill biològic. Per a la recopilació de dades, es van utilitzar dues escales quantitatives: Qüestionari d'Aferrament Adult (Melero i Cantero, 2008) i Escala de Prosociabilitat Caprara (Caprara, Steca, Zelly iCampanna, 2005).(AU)

[Interventions for Children and Adolescents Living in Foster or Institutional Care - A Systematic Review]. / Interventionen für Kinder und Jugendliche, die in Pflegefamilien oder Jugendhilfeeinrichtungen leben ­ ein systematisches Review.

Children or adolescents living in foster or institutional care received so far insufficient consideration in therapy intervention research. At the same time, they are a high-risk group for developing mental illness. The aim of this systematic review is to record evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions of the past 15 years on a national and international level that address children and young people living in foster care and youth welfare institutions and their mental health. Through a systematic literature research, interventions for the target group described were identified and analyzed about their specificity and evidence. From 170 publications, ten interventions with sufficient evidence could be included in the present analysis. The result of the current literature research shows that further specialized psychiatric-psychotherapeutic interventions for children in foster care and youth welfare institutions are necessary. Regarding the transferability to the German youth welfare and health system, cross-system and interdisciplinary cooperation is needed. Hereafter further research is required to establish specific and evidence-based intervention approaches.

Future Care Planning: Concerns of Elderly Parents Caring for a Person With Serious Mental Illness.

Although recent advances in early treatment of people with serious mental illness have brought new hope to family members, parents of service users are still often left to worry about their loved one's future care. Without judicious planning, a parent''s death can be a catastrophic event that leaves an adult with serious mental illness without supports. This Open Forum emphasizes the benefits of mental health professionals being proactive and helping families and service users address concerns with future care planning. The active involvement of all stakeholders, including the person with mental illness, relatives, friends, mental health professionals, lawyers, and financial planners, can ensure proper care planning and promote better long-term outcomes.

Adaptation of babies in three types of placement: An ethological approach.

The present pilot study focuses on the adaptive processes of babies who are placed during their first months of life. It used an ethological approach to explore the behavioural adjustment of 19 infants from their arrival in placement through their first 6 weeks in Residential Care (RC; France), a Foster Family (FF; Québec) or an Infant-Mother Centre (IMC; Québec). Direct observations were conducted once a week during feeding sessions. Observed behaviours were as follows: sleep-wake state, self-soothing, burp, visual exploration, motor activity, facial and vocal expressions. Then, a Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted to examine differences in babies' adaption as a function of placement setting. Results showed that, in RC, the duration of the post-feeding phase is the shortest. Moreover, these institutionalized babies showed the most modes of self-protection and the fewest vocalizations. By contrast, babies placed in the IMC spent the least time in withdrawal, expressed motor activity more regularly and were never placed back in their recliner before burping. Larger differences appear comparing placement in RC and that in the IMC, the placement in FF showing intermediate results.

El presente estudio piloto se enfoca en los procesos adaptivos de los bebés que son colocados durante sus primeros meses de vida. El estudio utilizó un acercamiento etológico para explorar la adaptación de comportamiento de diecinueve infantes a partir de su llegada al lugar donde se les colocó y a lo largo de sus primeras seis semanas en cuidado residencial (Francia) o dentro de una familia que les dio acogida (Quebec), o en un centro de infante-madre (Quebec). Se llevaron a cabo observaciones directas una vez por semana durante las sesiones de alimentación. Los comportamientos observados fueron: el estado de dormir-despertar, el auto-calmarse, el eructo, la exploración visual, la actividad motora, las expresiones faciales y vocales. Luego, un examen Kruskal-Wallis se llevó a cabo para examinar las diferencias en la adaptación de los bebés como una función del escenario de colocación. Los resultados mostraron que, en el cuidado residencial, la duración de la fase posterior a la alimentación es la más corta. Es más, estos bebés colocados en instituciones mostraron más maneras de auto-protección y memos vocalizaciones. En contraste, los bebés colocados en el centro de infante-madre pasaron el menor tiempo en retracción, expresaron actividad motora más regularmente y nunca se les puso de vuelta en el sillón reclinable antes de los eructos. Diferencias mayores aparecen, comparando el lugar de colocación en cuidado residencial y en el centro de infante-madre, mientras que la colocación en familias que les acogen mostró resultados intermedios.

Cette étude pilote porte sur les processus d'adaptation des bébés qui sont placés en famille durant les premiers mois de leur vie. Nous avons utilisé une approche éthologique afin d'explorer l'ajustement comportemental de dix-neuf nourrissons depuis leur arrivée en placement et au fil de leurs six premières semaines en soin résidentiel (en France) et en famille d'accueil (au Québec) ou dans un centre nourrisson-mère (au Québec). Des observations directes ont été faites une fois par semaine durant les séances d'allaitement. Les comportements observés étaient: l'état de sommeil-éveil, l'auto-apaisement, le rot, l'exploration visuelle, l'activité motrice, les expressions faciales et vocales. Ensuite un test Kruskal-Wallis a été fait afin d'examiner les différences dans l'adaptation des bébés comme une fonction du contexte de placement. Les résultats ont montré qu'en soin résidentiel la durée de la phase d'après allaitement est la plus courte. De plus ces bébés placés en institution ont fait preuve du plus de modes d'auto-protection et de moins de vocalisations. En contraste, les bébés placés en centre nourrisson-mère ont passé le moins de temps en sevrage, ont exprimé une activité motrice plus régulièrement et n'ont jamais été remis dans leur siège inclinable avant le rot. On constate des différences plus importantes en comparant ces données entre le placement résidentiel et celui en centre nourrisson-mère, le placement en famille d'accueil montrant des résultats immédiats.

Family and Child Characteristics Associated with Foster Care Breakdown.

Studies examining the experience of children returned from foster care can reveal its causes and the severity of the psychological consequences, as well as the positive effect of psychological support on family functioning. Our research was aimed at the features of children and characteristics of foster families who refuse to continue parenting foster children. The study participants were comprised of families raising a foster child (Group One-182 families), and families who refused to continue parenting and returned the child (Group Two-19 families). The study was conducted using the "standardized interview for parents" and the "list of traumatic experiences of the child." The results show that the strongest contributor to foster family breakdown was the degree of the child's traumatic experience before placement (for Group One, 3.9 (1.15); Group Two, 6.1 (1.31), U = 395.0, p < 0.001) and the minimal participation of the family in an intervention program (the total number of program activities the family did not participate in; for Group One, 48.5 (28.27)%, Group Two, 95.5 (2.58)%, U = 67.5, p < 0.001). Our data expand ideas about the functioning of foster families who have taken children with significant traumatic experience and indicate the need to improve the quality of psychological and social support to foster families as an important factor in preventing secondary returns.

Concurrent child history and contextual predictors of children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in foster care.

This study contributes to current research on the behavior problems of children in foster care by analyzing a more comprehensive set of concurrent child history and contextual predictors. Kinship home status and sibling status (i.e., whether the sibling was a biological sibling to the foster child) were evaluated as moderators of significant associations. Data were collected at the baseline of a foster parent training intervention program prior to any intervention services using parent phone interviews (N= 310, 51.6% male, M age = 7.57 years). Two linear hierarchical regressions were used to evaluate each set of predictors' association with behavior problems as well as each individual predictor's contribution. Results indicated that as a set, the contextual variables predicted a significant and unique amount of variability in the child's internalizing and externalizing behavior scores, but the child history variables did not. Specifically, the child's placement in a non-kinship home, being in a non-ethnically matched child-parent pair, higher parent stress scores, a greater number of prior group home placements, and higher internalizing behavior scores for the child predicted higher child externalizing scores. Higher parent stress scores, higher focal sibling externalizing behavior scores, and higher externalizing behavior scores for the child predicted higher internalizing scores for the child. The association between focal sibling externalizing behavior scores and child internalizing scores was moderated by kinship home status, such that there was a stronger association between the focal sibling's externalizing score and the child's internalizing score if the child was in a kinship compared to a non-kinship home. Implications for intervention services are discussed, particularly the importance of assessing the child's foster home environment when addressing the child's behavior problems.

Effects of home-based play-assisted stimulation on developmental performances of children living in extreme poverty: a randomized single-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Children living with foster families in a resource-limited setting such as Ethiopia are at risk of developmental problems. It is not yet clear whether intensive home-based developmental stimulation assisted by play can reduce these problems. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of play-assisted intervention integrated into basic services on the developmental performance of children living with foster families in extreme poverty. METHODS: A randomized single-blind (investigator) controlled trial design was used. The study was conducted in Jimma, South West Ethiopia. Using computer-generated codes, eligible children of 3-59 months in age were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 39) and control (n = 39) groups at a 1:1 ratio. Children in the intervention group received home-based play-assisted stimulation in addition to the basic services provided to children in both groups. The intervention consisted of an hour of play stimulation conducted during a weekly home visit over the course of six months. Personal-social, language, fine and gross motor outcomes were assessed using Denver II-Jimma, and social-emotional outcome was obtained using an adapted Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ: SE). Information about sociodemographic characteristics was collected using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric methods were used to determine nutritional status. The effects of the intervention on the abovementioned outcomes over the study period and group differences in change over time were examined using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). RESULTS: Statistically significant intervention effects were found for language (P = 0.0014), personal-social (P = 0.0087) and social-emotional (P <  0.0001) performances. At the midline of the study, language (effect size = 0.34) and social-emotional (effect size = - 0.603) benefits from the play-assisted stimulation had already been observed for the children in the intervention group. For language, the intervention effect depended on the child's sex (P = 0.0100) and for personal-social performance, on family income (P = 0.0300). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive home-based play-assisted stimulation reduced the developmental problems of children in foster families in the context of extreme poverty. Longer follow-up may reveal further improvements in the developmental performance of the children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 17 November 2016, Study Identifier: NCT02988180 .

["I foster babies awaiting adoption."] / « J'accueille à mon domicile des bébés en attente d'adoption ¼.

A mother's decision to give up a child is followed by a two-month period during which she may go back on her decision. During this time, the baby may be cared for in a care home or placed with a specialist foster family. An interview with Christiane Hamel, a retired children's nurse who has chosen to foster children in her home.

[Family care as a tool of mitigation the social risks of the elderly people in remote areas.]

The purpose of the study was to analyze the foster family as tool of the social security system for elderly in remote northern territories. The significance of long-term previous relationships for building and microclimate of a foster family, relationship with the living environment as a socio-psychological support for reducing (eliminating) the risks of loneliness, social inclusion in society through a foster family has been revealed. It was noted that legally consolidated efforts of the state and family at the regional level faster respond to changing needs for various types of services, taking into account local socio-economic opportunities and cultural traditions, which helps to diversify the number of forms of services that directly affect risk reduction and meeting the needs of an elderly person. It is shown that the uncertainty associated with the organization (accessibility) of care services (palliative care) of chronically sick people in old age, worthy death, is a risk in the remote northern territories.

Família acolhedora: o estabelecimento de relações objetais em situação de acolhimento / Foster family: the establishment of object relations in fostering situation / Familia acogedora: el establecimiento de relaciones de objeto en situación de acogimiento

O serviço de Família Acolhedora organiza o acolhimento de crianças e adolescentes afastados, temporariamente, do convívio familiar. Consideramos pertinente discutir e pensar essa prática para além de seus aspectos jurídicos e assistenciais, mas também científico-acadêmicos e psicológicos. Com o objetivo de compreender o estabelecimento de relações objetais nesse contexto específico, foram entrevistados dois adolescentes e cinco crianças que vivenciam ou vivenciaram essa experiência em algum período de suas vidas. As entrevistas foram não-diretivas e partiu-se de uma questão disparadora que estimulasse os depoimentos e contemplasse o método psicanalítico de associação livre.

The Foster Family Service organizes the fostering of children and adolescents who have been temporarily removed from family life. We consider relevant to discuss and think this practice beyond their legal and assistance aspects, also considering their scientific-academic and psychological characteristics. In order to understand the establishment of object relations in this specific context, we interviewed two teenagers and five children who have been experiencing or have experienced fostering at some period in their lives. The interviews were non-directive and initiated from a triggering question in order to encourage testimonials and free association psychoanalytical method.

El servicio Familia Acogedora organiza el cuidado de los niños y adolescentes retirados temporalmente de la vida familiar. Consideramos relevante discutir y pensar no solo los aspectos jurídicos y asistenciales de esta práctica, sino también científico-académicos y psicológicos. Para comprender el establecimiento de relaciones de objeto en este contexto específico, fueron entrevistados a dos adolescentes y a cinco niños que viven o vivieron esta experiencia en algún momento de sus vidas. Las entrevistas fueron no directivas, y se instaló una pregunta de arranque que estimulase los testimonios y contemplase el método psicoanalítico de la asociación libre.

Família acolhedora: o estabelecimento de relações objetais em situação de acolhimento / Foster family: the establishment of object relations in fostering situation / Familia acogedora: el establecimiento de relaciones de objeto en situación de acogimiento

O serviço de Família Acolhedora organiza o acolhimento de crianças e adolescentes afastados, temporariamente, do convívio familiar. Consideramos pertinente discutir e pensar essa prática para além de seus aspectos jurídicos e assistenciais, mas também científico-acadêmicos e psicológicos. Com o objetivo de compreender o estabelecimento de relações objetais nesse contexto específico, foram entrevistados dois adolescentes e cinco crianças que vivenciam ou vivenciaram essa experiência em algum período de suas vidas. As entrevistas foram não-diretivas e partiu-se de uma questão disparadora que estimulasse os depoimentos e contemplasse o método psicanalítico de associação livre.

The Foster Family Service organizes the fostering of children and adolescents who have been temporarily removed from family life. We consider relevant to discuss and think this practice beyond their legal and assistance aspects, also considering their scientific-academic and psychological characteristics. In order to understand the establishment of object relations in this specific context, we interviewed two teenagers and five children who have been experiencing or have experienced fostering at some period in their lives. The interviews were non-directive and initiated from a triggering question in order to encourage testimonials and free association psychoanalytical method.

El servicio Familia Acogedora organiza el cuidado de los niños y adolescentes retirados temporalmente de la vida familiar. Consideramos relevante discutir y pensar no solo los aspectos jurídicos y asistenciales de esta práctica, sino también científico-académicos y psicológicos. Para comprender el establecimiento de relaciones de objeto en este contexto específico, fueron entrevistados a dos adolescentes y a cinco niños que viven o vivieron esta experiencia en algún momento de sus vidas. Las entrevistas fueron no directivas, y se instaló una pregunta de arranque que estimulase los testimonios y contemplase el método psicoanalítico de la asociación libre.

O mistério do orçamento dos abrigos no Rio de Janeiro / The mystery of from shelters budget in Rio de Janeiro

O presente artigo visa contribuir com os profissionais e militantes da área da infância e juventude nos processos de pactuação e organização política. Objetiva-se demonstrar alguns dados comparativos do orçamento público e das políticas de acolhimento institucional e familiar na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. E, a partir desse breve levantamento, analisar criticamente o peso do orçamento destinado aos abrigos, na política de assistência social, e a lógica da prioridade absoluta de crianças e adolescentes nas políticas públicas.

This article aims to contribute with professionals and activists for children and youths about pact processes and political organization. The objective is to demonstrate some comparative data from the public budget and the policies for institutional and foster care in the city of Rio de Janeiro. And, from this brief survey, to critically analyze the weight of the budget for shelters in social assistance policies, and the logic of absolute priority of children and adolescents in public policies.

Acolhimento familiar: validando e atribuindo sentido às leis protetivas / Foster care: validating and giving sense to the protective laws

No contexto da atual legislação brasileira, no que se refere às crianças e aos adolescentes em situação de vulnerabilidade e risco, vamos encontrar um novo serviço dentre as medidas protetivas previstas: o serviço de acolhimento em família acolhedora. Dado o ineditismo desse serviço como política pública, este artigo tem por objetivo contribuir para a reflexão sobre a sua execução no território nacional.

In the context of the current Brazilian legislation, which refers to children and adolescents in situations of vulnerability and risk, we will find a new service among the protective measures ­provided: host service in welcoming family. Given the unprecedented of this service as a public policy, this article aims to contribute to reflection about its execution in the country.

Acolhimento de crianças e adolescentes em situações de abandono, violência e rupturas / Fostering children and adolescents in situations of abandonment, violence and separation

A proteção integral à infância encontra-se em reordenamento. Baseadas nas experiências do GIAAA-CINDEDI (Grupo de Investigação sobre Abrigamento, Acolhimento Familiar e Adoção - Centro de Investigações sobre Desenvolvimento Humano e Educação Infantil), buscamos compreender a rede de significações que permeia as práticas de acolhimento familiar, institucional e adoção. Investigamos vários contextos e protagonistas: sistema judiciário, abrigos, mães e famílias de origem, de acolhimento e adotivas. Diversos procedimentos foram utilizados: investigações sócio-demográficas, estudos de caso, entrevistas, pesquisa documental nos abrigos e no Fórum, grupos de discussão. Ressaltamos achados comuns: "invisibilidade" da família de origem; freqüente (re)violação da criança; falhas na Rede de Proteção; significações sobre "família saudável" e papel das concepções sobre apego que permeiam o campo. Implicações para políticas públicas e práticas sociais na área são discutidas.(AU)

Childhood protection is undergoing several changes. Our study aimed to outline the complex network of meanings which includes adoption as well as institutional and family foster care, by combining theory, research and practice. We investigated various contexts and protagonists: judicial system, foster institutions, birth parents, foster and adoptive parents, and families and their children. Diverse data collection procedures were used: socio-demographic investigations, case-studies, follow-ups, interviews, analysis of foster institutions and legal court documents. Results pointed to "invisibility" of birth family, frequent child (re)abuse, failures in the network of protection, meanings of "healthy family" and role of attachment concepts. Implications for social policies and social practices are discussed.(AU)