The Lives of Foster Carers analyzes the contradictions, conflicts, and ambiguities experienced by foster carers arising from the inter-penetrations of public bureaucracy and private family life. Topics covered include: social policy pertinent to childcare the history of foster care service available literature on the experience of foster carers public versus private domains in foster care motivations and roles of foster carers how foster carers perceive themselves and their foster children. Based on a wide range of literature and in-depth interviews with forty-six foster carers, this book provides a valuable insight into the concerns, processes and experiences of foster carers in the UK. Jargon free and accessible, it will appeal to foster carers, practitioners, students and academics in social care, youth work and childcare as well as policy makers in children’s services.

The Lives of Foster Carers analyzes the contradictions, conflicts, and ambiguities experienced by foster carers arising from the inter-penetrations of public bureaucracy and private family life. Topics covered include: social policy pertinent to childcare the history of foster care service available literature on the experience of foster carers public versus private domains in foster care motivations and roles of foster carers how foster carers perceive themselves and their foster children. Based on a wide range of literature and in-depth interviews with forty-six foster carers, this book provides a valuable insight into the concerns, processes and experiences of foster carers in the UK. Jargon free and accessible, it will appeal to foster carers, practitioners, students and academics in social care, youth work and childcare as well as policy makers in children’s services.

Working with children in foster care is a demanding and rigorous aspect of social work practice. Difficult decisions in fast-moving and often complex situations have to be made, and for students and practitioners alike, there is a vast array of legislation, law and social policy to understand. This book is written to help social workers and social work students get to grips with the complexity of foster care. The child is placed at the heart of the text and there are substantial chapters on law, policy frameworks and the overreaching theoretical and research evidence to support good practice. There is also a strong focus on practical skills such as empathy and relationship-based practice. This is an essential text for experienced social workers or those currently in training.

Fostering Now brings together authoritative research on foster care in the UK. succinct overview of a wide range of research projects and highlights the main implications for policymakers and all professionals involved in the fostering process. Drawing on the varied experiences and views of foster children, social workers, foster carers and parents, this book looks at how placement outcomes are influenced by factors such as foster carers' parenting styles, contact with the child's own parents, and the child's gender, ethnicity, age and physical and emotional health. Other important areas exami.

Please let me introduce you to Judith AM Denton. Placed in Foster Care at the age of 9, growing up through the system, Judith experienced exclusions from School and College, a run in with the Law, and then as a Care Leaver, she experienced a period of poor Mental Health. But thankfully her story doesn't end there.... In this real-life narrative, Judith openly details the challenges faced and overcome, at every stage of her journey through and out of the Foster Care System. You'll also find 'Messages' she has penned to inspire hope to Children In Care and Care Leavers, along with 'Messages' to Foster Carers, Social Workers, School Staff and our Government, a call to action, to make the urgent changes she believes is needed to help improve the outcomes and life chances of our Looked After Community. Now the Founder and CEO of The Transformed You, providing Intervention and Support Mentoring Programmes to improve their outcomes and life chances of Children and Young People in Care and Care Leavers, aged 11 – 25 who have behaviour, emotional and social difficulties, Judith is also a sought-after Keynote Speaker at Social Care Conferences and a member of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's Fostering Panel, positioned to help make sure our Children and Young People in Care get the best of Care, and as you read you will be inspired to see and believe that Change Is Possible!

The inadequacy of the foster care system has long been recognized. One of the biggest obstacles to reforming the system is the relative unavailability of research data from the field, information that would shed light on key empirical trends and pressing issues. ø This long overdue volume provides a much-needed overview of the current state of foster care. Leading researchers and practitioners summarize and discuss the results of their current research, providing through their data an unparalleled, detailed glimpse of the inner workings of the foster care system in its entirety. The volume is also valuable for its survey and syntheses of important issues and trends affecting foster care. Subjects discussed include welfare reform, reporting systems, family reunification, mental health services, and the needs of minority children. Wide-ranging and detailed in its coverage, this collection is destined to become an essential reference and guide to the foster care system.

According to A.B.C. News, approximately 800,000 children every year come in contact with the foster care system. While the system is set up to take in children whose homelife is awful, in some cases Foster care offers no better conditions. Despite more than a decade of intended reform, the foster care system is overcrowded and rife with issues. This collection of essays teaches readers about the issues surrounding foster care. The essays represent a diversity of opinion on the topic, including both conservative and liberal points of view in an even balance. Readers will learn about the history of foster care, and what it's like to be a child in the system. Essay sources like The Economist tackle issues of foster care funding, stating it needs to be changed. This collection will truly provide your readers with an intelligent, balanced understanding.