Foster care in Portugal: outcomes, needs, and challenges for deinstitutionalization

Paulo Delgado

doi:10.7179/PSRI_2023.43.07

Autores/as

Paulo Delgado Escola Superior do Instituto Politécnico do Porto https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6977-8214

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7179/PSRI_2023.43.07

Palabras clave:

acogimiento familiar, desinstitucionalización, Portugal

Resumen

Este estudio evalúa la evidencia y los desafíos del desarrollo del sistema de acogimiento familiar en Portugal. Describe la evolución de la política social adoptada en el sistema de acogimiento infantil portugués, destacando la colocacionón en acogimiento familiar, seguida de una descripción general de los principales actores institucionales del sistema de protección y los apoyos brindados a los cuidadores familiares. Luego, con base en la investigación disponible desarrollada en Portugal, se presenta un retrato de las experiencias vividas por las familias de acogida y los niños colocados en acogimiento familiar, revelando las opiniones de los niños y cuidadores sobre el bienestar y el desarrollo personal, la educación y el proceso de salida del acogimiento, el acogimiento familiar y acogimiento residencial, y participación en la toma de decisiones. Los análisis adoptados identifican la intensidad y singularidad de las relaciones en el acogimiento familiar, y el impacto que tiene en la vida de los niños y las familias de acogimiento. Revelan una experiencia intensa y única que no tiene parangón con otras relaciones educativas y afectivas que se establecen entre adultos y niños. El artículo discute las implicaciones para las políticas y prácticas, al considerar la necesidad de un cambio del acogimiento residencial al familiar para lograr un mejor equilibrio en el sistema y acercarse a las declaraciones internacionales de buenas prácticas.

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Biografía del autor/a

Paulo Delgado, Escola Superior do Instituto Politécnico do Porto

Graduated in Law, Master in Education Administration and PhD in Educational Sciences from the University of Santiago de Compostela, with Aggregation in Educational Sciences at UTAD – University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. Researcher at InED – Center for Research and Innovation in Education and member of the Center’s Management; Full professor at Escola Superior de Educação do Porto of the Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Portugal; President of the Pedagogical Council of the Escola Superior de Educação do Porto since April 2017.

Citas

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