Managing loss and a threatened identity: Experiences of parents of children growing up in foster care, the perspectives of their social workers and implications for practice

Schofield, Gillian, Moldestad, Bente, Höjer, Ingrid, Ward, Emma, Skilbred, Dag, Young, Julie and Havik, Toril (2011) Managing loss and a threatened identity: Experiences of parents of children growing up in foster care, the perspectives of their social workers and implications for practice. British Journal of Social Work, 41 (1). 74–92. ISSN 0045-3102

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Abstract

Parents of children growing up in foster-care have been a largely neglected group in policy, practice and research, in spite of the fact that these parents are often vulnerable adults who experience a profound loss and a threat to their identity. Parents' involvement through contact is also likely to have an impact on children's stability and security in the foster family. This article draws on data from parallel qualitative studies at the University of East Anglia, England, the University of Bergen, Norway, and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Interviews and focus groups with parents showed a great deal of similarity in the situation experienced by parents in the three countries. But all three studies found great diversity in how parents managed their loss and their threatened identity over time, including varied strategies for managing cognitive dissonance. What parents shared was the need to be treated by social workers with respect and empathy; to receive information about the children; and to be involved, where possible, in the children's lives. Focus groups with social workers, who had to balance the needs of children and parents, found there was a need for guidance in this difficult work.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work and Psychology (former - to 2012)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection & Family Support Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (former - to 2023) Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Depositing User:	Katherine Humphries
Date Deposited:	21 Dec 2010 10:39
Last Modified:	27 May 2025 23:49
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/18497
DOI:	10.1093/bjsw/bcq073

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