Fostering Now

Fostering Now summarizes the findings of the largest recent study into foster care in the UK. It provides an overview of 16 research projects specially commissioned by the government as part of its Supporting Parents initiative and highlights the main implications for policymakers and all professionals involved in the fostering process.The research explores the views of foster children, social workers, foster carers and parents, investigating their diverse experiences of, for example, arranging a placement, carer training and support, and the child's return home. It looks at how the placement is influenced by factors such as contact with birth families, foster carers' parenting styles, and factors relating to the child such as gender, ethnicity, age or disability. Follow-up studies examine what happens to foster children when they leave care, and compare the outcomes for children returning home and for those who remain in care. Identifying the most significant challenges currently faced by foster care, the researchers draw out the key messages for policy and practice and the further questions arising from their work. This book is essential reading for social workers, policy makers, academics and foster carers themselves.