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Placement in foster care is typically an emotionally
upsetting event for children and youths, even when their family situation is
unstable, unhealthy, or rejecting. Processes such as the following have been
found to he instrumental in helping children to adapt to the challenges of
family foster care (Pecora & Maluccio, 2000)
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Helping young persons to share their feelings of
confusion and rejection, in order to understand the nature of their
placement in foster care and to minimize denial, fantasy, and repression
of their pain and suffering.
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Continuing at least some connection with their prior
environment, particularly their birth parents or other close family
members.
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Promoting, as appropriate, knowledge of
— and identification with —
the birth parents, so as to aid in the child’s efforts to adjust.
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Providing information about the reasons for placement
and the meaning of being in foster care. Children who know the
composition of their birth family, their age when they left home, and
where their parents live are able to adjust and fare better in foster
care.
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Coordinating roles and activities among birth parents,
foster parents, social workers, and other service providers, so as to
facilitate cooperation and effective use of services. This is crucial,
as children and youths in foster care typically require multiple
services to meet medical, educational, and psychological needs.
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Planning ongoing visits with birth parents, siblings and
other relatives, especially early in the placement.
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Focusing on preparation for independent living in
situations of youths who cannot return to their families of origin or be
placed with other families (see also the paper of Mann-Feder & White in
this issue). For these young people, it is essential to provide early in
the placement opportunities to develop life skills necessary for
successful transition to independent living and emancipation as young
adults.
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