Reviewing the Literature on the Breakdown of Foster Care Placements for Young People: Complexity and the Social Work Task

Young people in long-term foster care are at risk of experiencing poor social, emotional, behavioural and educational outcomes. Moreover, these placements have a significantly greater chance of breaking down compared to those involving children. This article critically evaluates the factors associated with this particular outcome. It was carried out through a literature review conducted by a social work practitioner in one Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland. The findings evidenced that, apart from overriding safety concerns, placement breakdown was not a one-off event but rather a complex process involving the interplay between a range of dynamic risk and protective factors over time, operating in the wider context of the young person’s history and life experiences. The significance of these findings for social work practitioners is finally considered by identifying key theories to inform understanding and intervention.

Effects of a book gifting programme on literacy outcomes for foster children: A randomised controlled trial evaluation of the Letterbox Club in Northern Ireland

The poor educational outcomes of children in care is a significant concern internationally. Whilst there have been many interventions developed to address this problem, very few of these have been rigorously evaluated. This article presents the findings of a randomised controlled trial that sought to measure the effectiveness of a book gifting programme (the Letterbox Club) that aims to improve literacy skills amongst children aged 7-11 years in foster care. The programme involves children receiving six parcels of books sent through the post over a six-month period. The trial, which ran between April 2013 and June 2014, involved a sample of 116 children in Northern Ireland (56 randomly allocated to the intervention group and 60 to a waiting list control group). Outcome measures focused on reading skills (reading accuracy, comprehension and rate) and attitudes to reading and school. The trial found no evidence that the book-gifting programme had any effect on any of the outcomes measured. Drawing upon some of the emergent themes from the accompanying qualitative process evaluation that sought to determine foster carer/child attitude towards and engagement with the parcels, it is suggested that one plausible reason for the ineffectiveness of the Letterbox Club, as intimated by carers and children (rather than explicitly explored with them), is the lack of support provided to the carers/children in relation to the packs received. Reflective of an ecological model of children’s development, it is recommended that for book-gifting programmes to be effective they need to include a focus on encouraging the direct involvement of foster carers in shared literacy activities with the children using the books that are gifted.

Hearing the voices of kinship foster carers in Northern Ireland: An inquiry into characteristics, needs and experiences

This study describes an investigation into the characteristics, needs and experiences of kinship foster carers in Northern Ireland. By adopting a mixed-methods approach with 54 carers, a number of salient themes was captured. The respondents were predominantly grandparents who experienced a significant incidence of health-related issues. The cohort also endured high levels of stress, particularly at the beginning stage of the foster placement. Consequently, their need for practical, emotional and respite support was most evident. In terms of the children for whom they cared, many required help at school, and some presented with challenging emotions and behaviours. Overall, these findings emphasised the importance of relationship-based social work and demonstration of accurate empathy to the carer.

Facts About Children in Foster Care Dorchester County

From 2003-2007, the South Carolina Foster Care Review Board at the Office of Executive Policy and Programs published a fact sheet with data about children in foster care for every county in the state. The summary provides demographics, areas of concern, progress measures, and overall assessment.

Arthur, journal d'un inconnu / Eugène Sue

Collection : Oeuvres choisies de M. Eugène Sue

Foster Children in Education: Resource Handbook for Elementary Educators

This project is aligned with examining the role of the education system and the foster care context on the learning experiences of young children in the classroom. This project is a study of the literature and research conducted on the life experiences, adverse effects of these experiences (such as attachment disorder), socioemotional development, and resiliency of foster care children. Furthermore, the project explores the literature on how the experiences of these foster children traverse contexts and impact the education setting. This study also outlines specific strategies and practices for teachers and school staff in order to promote students’ resiliency, competency, behaviour management, and overall educational success and positive academic experience. These strategies resulted from a critical review of the literature and translated into the development of an informative handbook intended for teachers. The handbook developed in this study focuses on the understanding of the lives of foster care children, their histories, adverse experiences, socioemotional development, strategies to manage behaviour, unique needs, and encouraging their resiliency and success in school. To ensure the soundness of the handbook, 2 education liaisons at a Family and Child Services agency within Ontario and a former child and service social worker from Manitoba reviewed the first draft and provided comments on the validity of the content and the potential usability of the handbook for educators. Suggestions and comments provided by these experts were used to enhance the final product of the handbook.

Letter to Mona [Foster] regarding Mary and George and life in America

Letter to Mona [Foster] (1 page, typed) regarding Mary and George and life in America. This is a partial letter and the signature is not included. The writer lives in America, Dec. 9, 1919.

Cable to L.C.O. Woodruff from Mona Foster

Cable to L.C.O. Woodruff from Mona Foster. She asks if she should sell the securities and invest in war loans, n.d.

Itinerario istruttivo di Roma antica e moderna ovvero descrizióne generale dei monumenti antichi e moderni e delle opere le piu insigni dipittura, scultura ed architettura di quest' alma cittae delle sue adiacerze

UANL

Institutio concionatorum tripartita sue praecepta et regulae ad praedicatores verbi divini informandos : cum ideis, sive rudimentis concionum per totum annum

UANL

Le roman au risque de l’amnésie. Stratégies mémorielles du récit différé (Leblanc, Sue, Mouhy)

Alors que la poésie, le théâtre, la musique ou la peinture se transmettent au premier chef par la continuité de leurs formes, le roman n’a aucune continuité formelle, sinon celle d’être une oeuvre en prose d’une certaine longueur, mettant en scène des personnages fictifs. Par quels repères et quels relais, dès lors, le roman construit-il sa propre histoire? Ce recueil pose la question de la mémoire non pas diffuse mais précise que l’on garde des romans et des mécanismes qui la sous-tendent : quelles scènes, quelles images, quels personnages, quels « résumés » les lecteurs, mais aussi les romanciers eux-mêmes dans leurs propres oeuvres, conservent-ils ou sont-ils amenés à conserver des romans qu’ils ont lus? Par des exemples qui vont du Moyen Âge à l’époque contemporaine, c’est à ces questions que répondent les auteurs réunis autour de l’équipe du TSAR (Travaux de recherche sur les arts du roman), qui envisage le roman non pas comme un genre littéraire parmi d’autres mais comme une forme singulière de pensée et d’imagination.

Un mundo, un sue??o

Seleccionado en la convocatoria: Ayudas para desarrollar proyectos de convivencia, Gobierno de Arag??n 2008-09

Do new ways of working foster work engagement?

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n