The voices of parents and children in foster care

Abstract

Summary This article presents the results of a qualitative study whose objective was to collect information on the perceptions of changes in parents and their children who are in the Spanish foster care system after completing a positive parenting programme. Findings The participants in the focus groups included 66 parents and 57 children. Triangulation of the voices of all protagonists identified findings that suggest the need for changes regarding understanding foster care measures and the process of family resilience; the quality and content of visits and contact between parents and children; and the role of professionals involved in the case. Applications The findings indicate the efficacy of the intervention proposed in the 'Walking family' programme with the direct and active involvement of children as they become a driver of change for the parents. However, when this does not occur, professionals must work from a critical approach and should provide a realistic view of the family to children.

This study was developed by the research group GRISIJ (Research Group for Social and Educational Interventions in Child and Youth) (2017SGR905), and it was financed by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Spanish State Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund (EDU2014-52921-C2) and (RTI2018-099305-B-C21).