Professionals’ View on Foster Care Services in Turkey

Abstract

Foster care services, as an alternative social service model to residential care, is a practice model for children in need of protection, seeking them to be cared for and protected in a family context. Although foster care services have been practiced since the 1960s, they had not been prevalent for decades. Despite the increasing number of foster families in recent years, it can not be asserted that the number is well enough for the child protection system. This study aims to determine issues related to foster care service delivery and improvement, in the eye of professionals working in this field.Method: This study was carried out based on phenomenological research design under qualitative research methods. In this regard, in-depth interviews were held with academics with knowledge and experience in foster family services and representatives of non-governmental organizations serving in the field of the foster family. Findings:Research findings indicate that foster care services in Turkey are still not well-known in public. It also can be understood that some socio-cultural factors might cause negative attitudes towards being foster family. It can be emphasized that there are significant issues related to foster care services, such as advertising, popularising, organising, and supervising.Originality: In Turkey, the literature that focuses on the functioning of the child protection system and the implementation of child protection policies is still limited. On the other hand, the study offers suggestions for making foster care services more familiar in public , and improving its quality.

Forming the Modern Turkish Village

“…The state policy was ambiguous, since the studies on folkloric music was carried out by scholars all over the country. Fethiye Erbay andMutlu Erbay, Cumhuriyet Dönemi (1923-1938), Atatürk'ün Sanat Politikası, 1. basım (İstanbul: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, 2006), 150. 80 Tansuğ, Çağdaş Türk sanatı, 216.…”