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Fostering Together–The Why and How of Involving and Supporting Biological Children of Foster Carers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2015

Anna Targowska Open the ORCID record for Anna Targowska [Opens in a new window] ,
Tara Cavazzi  and
Stephan Lund
Anna Targowska*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology & Social Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dve, Joondalup Western Australia 6027, Australia
Tara Cavazzi
Affiliation:
School of Psychology & Social Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Stephan Lund
Affiliation:
Wanslea Family Services, Perth, Western Australia
*
address for correspondence: Dr Anna Targowska, School of Psychology & Social Science, Social Justice Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dve, Joondalup Western Australia 6027, Australia. E-mail: a.targowska@ecu.edu.au
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Abstract

This article discusses the outcomes of a research project undertaken in 2011/2013 by a team of researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in collaboration with Wanslea Family Services. The project aimed to address the relative lack of voice of biological children in the fostering task, despite the increasing acknowledgement of children's rights and their capability to be involved in decision-making processes. Data was collected through the use of focus groups and interviews with a small number of biological children, foster carers and service providers in Western Australia (WA). The data indicated the necessity to reconsider the rights of biological children in the fostering task and the need for specific strategies to address these rights. The findings of the study informed the development of a set of interactive resources for supporting biological children of foster carers during all stages of the fostering process in Australia. The resources also have potential value for use in overseas jurisdictions.

Keywords

family foster carechildren’s rightschildren’s welfarefoster carers
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 29 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

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