Decision-Making in Emergency Foster Care: An Insider Perspective on Current Practices and Possibilities for Change

Abstract

Emergency foster care is a protection measure for children who are in a situation of abuse and/or neglect or at imminent risk of it that requires an assessment to make a decision. In Catalonia (Spain), emergency foster care placements are designed for children aged 0-6 and can last up to a maximum of 6 months. This study explores decision-making factors influencing (i) the length of time a child is in emergency foster care; (ii) the child's transition to a new home; and (iii) the support needs of those involved in these placements. A qualitative method was employed, gathering perspectives from key stakeholders (social workers, foster and adoptive families and a care-experienced youth) through five focus groups and two interviews (N = 24), followed by content analysis. The findings indicate that emergency foster care frequently exceeds the legally established 6-month limit. Recommendations include improving case assessments to ensure that placement in emergency foster care is really the best option for the child and, above all, to shorten its duration. It is also worth reflecting on the relationship established between the child and the emergency foster carers after the emergency placement ends, to prevent children from feeling that they are being abandoned again

Research funding: Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca [Generalitat de Catalunya]. Grant Number: 2022 FISDU 00247

Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Wiley