Interventions in foster and kinship care: A systematic review

Abstract

Foster care is a complex setting in which to provide therapeutic interventions due to the high rates of difficulty, poor outcomes and high numbers of professionals and carers involved. This systematic review aims to examine interventions that have been empirically assessed in foster care. Thirty papers describing 20 interventions were included. It was found that there was good support for wraparound services and relational interventions, but little support for widely used carer training programmes. A need was identified to further research and implement wraparound services within the UK, and to empirically test interventions which may be efficacious with a foster care population.

Adoption Counselors' Perspectives of Counseling Postadoptive Families

“…Most notable was their frustration with behavioral approaches, which seemed to further repel children from forming a loving relationship with their adoptive parents. This finding underscores the results of studies (Kinsey & Schlösser, ; Purvis et al, ) that found that behavioral interventions were not strongly supported for application with traumatized children. Researchers have discovered that traumatized children frequently exhibit elevated cortisol levels associated with posttraumatic stress disorder that can entrap them in a chronic state of flight, fight, or freeze (Carnes‐Holt & Bratton, ).…”

Literature review: Foster carer attraction, recruitment, support and retention

“…The reviews of studies of training programs, most of which were systematic reviews, reported limitations in the methodologies of studies, which in turn limited generalisable conclusions. In summary, standalone training was generally not supported by the evidence in terms of child outcomes or placement stability (Everson-Hock et al, 2012;Kinsey & Schlösser, 2012). Multi-session programs of longer durations (10-16 weeks) had more beneficial effects than single sessions (Everson-Hock et al, 2012;Festinger & Baker, 2013).…”

“…6. Training programs which show the greatest promise in USA research reviews are those which give the opportunity for foster carers to practise new learning in their own homes with their child in care, as well as to receive feedback on this, such as Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care derivatives such as KEEP (Keeping Foster and Kin Parents Trained and Supported) (Kinsey & Schlösser, 2012;Leve et al, 2012).…”

“…The exception to this poor report card for training programs seems to be KEEP, (now standing for Keeping Foster and Kin Parents Trained and Supported) (Kinsey & Schlösser, 2012;Leve et al, 2012). A 16 week training program, it is derived from Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (now called Treatment Foster Care Oregon) and so includes some elements other than group training.…”

Supporting the Casa Lar social educator: a case study of a consultation using intercultural knowledge translation

“…Children in foster care are more likely to experience disruptions in brain and neurobiological development, stress-response systems and executive functioning due to early experiences of neglect, abuse and/or abandonment, or prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs; this in turn may negatively impact the child's development, behaviour and ability to form social relationships (LEVE et al, 2012). For these reasons, many caregivers find caring for a child/adolescent in foster care to be challenging and stressful (DORSEY et al, 2008;EVERSON-HOCK et al, 2012;KINSEY;SCHLÖSSER, 2013;TURNER et al, 2007). Without more explicit guidance how best to meet the complex needs of children/adolescents in alternative care in ways that promote resilience and growth, caregivers may not only exacerbate any difficulties the children/adolescents experience but also inadvertently replicate the very social power relationships that fuel the cycle of social inequality (LUVIZARO; GALHEIGO, 2011).…”