Cautious Belonging: Relationships in Long-Term Foster-Care

Senses of belonging when living in foster care families: Insights from children’s video diaries

“…Thus, the majority of children in foster care have to relate to multiple family settings as part of everyday life. However, as demonstrated in studies of children living in foster care, navigating between different family settings can be challenging and influences the child’s relationships and senses of belonging (Ahmed et al, 2015; Biehal, 2014; Christiansen et al, 2013; Holland and Crowley, 2013; Rees and Pithouse, 2008; Sen and Broadhurst, 2011; Skoog et al, 2015). When focusing on the children’s own experiences of living in foster care, these studies show that most children value their relationship with their birth families, especially when the contact is professionally supported and regulated based on the child’s needs (Sen and Broadhurst, 2011).…”

“…In their study on long-term foster care, Christiansen et al (2013) found that most children felt a sense of belonging to both their foster care and birth families. However, they also learned that the complexity of navigating between different family settings could entail ambiguous experiences and often stressful emotional conflicts for the child (Christiansen et al, 2013).…”

“…In their study on long-term foster care, Christiansen et al (2013) found that most children felt a sense of belonging to both their foster care and birth families. However, they also learned that the complexity of navigating between different family settings could entail ambiguous experiences and often stressful emotional conflicts for the child (Christiansen et al, 2013). Biehal (2014) identified factors that shaped long-term foster care children’s senses of belonging, including their mental representations of past and current experiences in respective family settings as well as the meanings they ascribed to family relationships.…”

“…In their videos both Veronica and Sara record how they navigate between foster and birth families and how their multiple relationships are ‘not always harmonious’ (Morgan, 2011: 52). Especially in one video, Veronica shows how navigating between her different family settings causes emotional conflicts and dilemmas (see also Christiansen et al, 2013). On day two of her video diary, she is with her biological father’s family on Christmas holiday.…”

Utilsiktet flytting fra fosterhjem

“…Det trengs bredt anlagt forskning om barn og unges oppfatninger av gevinster og omkostninger ved det å vaere i fosterhjem, og om deres forståelser av hvorfor fosterhjem ender med utilsiktet flytting. De senere årene er det gjennomført flere norske studier av fosterbarns relasjoner til sin fosterfamilie og opprinnelige familie (for eksempel Christiansen et al, 2012;Ellingsen, Shemmings & Størksen, 2012;Holtan, 2002;Thørnblad & Holtan, 2011). Så langt er norsk forskningskunnskap om barns erfaringer med utilsiktete flyttinger begrenset til resultater fra «Plasseringsprosjektet» (Christiansen et al, 2010).…”