Training foster parents in loyalty conflict: A training evaluation

What do foster families and social workers think about children’s contact with birth parents? A focus group analysis

“…It should be remembered that the birth parents remain the primary figures of reference for the child, and it is therefore important to maintain this special bond. As in the study by Metha et al (2013), our participants stated that contact could reduce foster children's anxiety and uncertainty about their biological parents, and also limit the distress they experience as a result of being separated from them. This supports our view that visits provide an opportunity for children to learn more about their birth family and to understand the reasons why they were taken into care.…”

“…These negative views may be partly due to the fact that in Spain there tends to be limited contact and collaboration between the two families, a situation that hampers mutual understanding and encourages mistrust and judgmental opinions. As Metha et al (2013) point out, it is important that birth parents and foster carers cooperate in helping the child to reconcile feelings of loyalty and affection toward both families, as otherwise the child may experience a conflict of loyalty.…”

“…Among the benefits of contact it is argued that maintaining attachment relationships with the biological family can help the child to adapt to life with the foster family (Biehal, 2014;Dozier et al, 2002;Ironside, 2012;Juffer et al, 2014). When foster children are unable to reconcile feelings of loyalty and affection toward both their birth and foster families, a conflict of loyalty can arise and may potentially produce considerable anxiety in the child (Metha et al, 2013). Contact visits between foster children and their biological parents can help to stimulate a secure attachment relationship and to reduce or prevent a conflict of loyalty, and thus they are regarded as very important for the child's wellbeing (McWey et al, 2010).…”

The wellbeing of foster children and their relationship with foster parents and biological parents: a child’s perspective

“…When a child is unable to reconcile feelings of loyalty, trust and affection to two sets of opposing parents, it is suggested that loyalty conflicts can occur (Poulin, 1986). Loyalty conflicts among foster children are a widely discussed phenomenon and are assumed to be related to high levels of anxiety and feelings of distrust and anger in children which often manifest as behavioral problems (Bastiaensen, 2001;Metha et al, 2013).…”