Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T02:22:43.970Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Balancing contradictions: The experiences of biological children of foster families

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Elaine Nuske
Elaine Nuske*
Affiliation:
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour NSW 2452, Email: elaine.nuske@scu.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a recent research project that provided an opportunity for the voices of a special group of young people to be heard. The biological children of foster families have rarely been the focus of foster care research. Their stories are used in this study to highlight individual experiences and, ultimately, to inform the practice of offering support to foster families.

Twenty-two young people between the ages of nine and thirty-two were interviewed. Their stories told of life in a confusing and contradictory world of foster care. This paper presents, through the words of the young people, four essential themes that highlight these contradictions. These are: sharing and losing; being responsible and escaping; caring and resenting; shouting and keeping quiet. Recommendations are made to improve training and support to foster families.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , 2010 , pp. 32 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ainsworth, F. (1997) ‘Recent trends in out of home care of children in Australia’, Children Australia, 22(2), 4–8.Google Scholar
Andersson, G. (2001) ‘The Motives of foster parents, their family and work circumstances’, British Journal of Social Work, 31, 235–248.Google Scholar
Australian Foster Care Association (undated) Priorities and Position Statements (2002–2003), retrieved 13th March from <http://www.fostercare.org.au/priority.html>..>Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010) Child protection Australia 2008-9, Child Welfare Series No. 43, Canberra.Google Scholar
Berridge, D, & Cleaver, H. (1987) Foster home breakdown, Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Bromfield, L.M. & Osborn, A. (2007) ‘Getting the big picture’: A synopsis and critique of Australian out-of-home care research’, Child Abuse Prevention Issues, No. 26, retrieved 13th March 2008 from: <http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues26/issues26.html> Google Scholar
Cashmore, J. (2002) ‘Promoting the participation of children’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 26, 837–847.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J.A., Higgins, D.J., Bromfield, L.M. & Scott, D. A. (2006) ‘Recent Australian child protection and out-of-home care research: What's been done?’, Children Australia, 31(2), 4–11.Google Scholar
Cautley, P.W. (1980) New foster parents: The first experience. New York: Human Services Press.Google Scholar
Christensen, P. & James, A. (eds.) (2000) Research with children: Perspectives and practices, Melbourne: Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Crowley, M. (1985) Preparation for foster care practice. Social Work Monographs, University of East Anglia.Google Scholar
Delfabbro, P.H., Osborn, A. & Barber, J.G. (2005) ‘Beyond the continuum: New perspectives on the future of out-of-home care research in Australia’, Children Australia, 30, 11–18.Google Scholar
Ellis, L. (1972) ‘Sharing parent's with strangers. The role of the group home foster family's own children’, Child Welfare, 51(3), 165–170.Google Scholar
Evans, W. B. & Tierney, L.J. (1995) ‘Making foster care possible: A study of 307 foster families in Victoria’, Children Australia, 20(2), 4–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farmer, E., Moyes, S. & Lipscombe, J. (2004) Fostering adolescents, London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Fox, W. (2001) The significance of natural children in foster families, Social Work Monographs, School of Social and Psychosocial Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.Google Scholar
Gain, L., Ross, E. & Fogg, S. (1987) A balancing act: Foster care in NSW, Council of Social Service of NSW.Google Scholar
Kaplan, C.P. (1988) ‘The biological children of foster parents in the foster family’, Child and Adolescent Social Work, 5(4), 281–299.Google Scholar
Martin, G. (1993) ‘Foster care: The protection and training of carer's children’, Child Abuse Review, 2, 15–22.Google Scholar
McFadden, E.J. (1996) ‘Family centred practice with foster families’, Families in Society, 77(9), 545–574.Google Scholar
Morrow, V. & Richards, M. (1996) ‘The ethics of social research with children: An overview’, Children and Society, 10(2), 90–105.Google Scholar
Moslehuddin, Md. B. (1999) ‘The impact of fostering on the biological children of foster carers: A review of the literature’, Children Australia, 24(4), 49–54.Google Scholar
Mullin, E. & Johnson, L. (1999) ‘The role of birth/previously adopted children in families choosing to adopt children with special needs’ Child Welfare, 78(5), 579–592.Google Scholar
National Children's Support Group (1989) Children who foster, video, York, UK.Google Scholar
Part, D. (1993) ‘Fostering as seen by carer's children’, Adoption and Fostering, 17(1), 26–31.Google Scholar
Parse, R.R., Coyne, A.B. & Smith, M.J. (1985) Nursing research, qualitative methods, Maryland: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Poland, D. & Groze, V. (1993) ‘The effects of foster care on biological children in the home’, Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 10(2), 153–163.Google Scholar
Prosiak, K.V. (1995) Adjustment ofnatural children in treatment foster care, Masters Practicum Proposal, Nova University ED 387 775.Google Scholar
Pugh, G. (1996) ‘Seen and not heard? Addressing the needs of children who foster’, Adoption and Fostering, 20(1), 35–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reed, J.A. (1994) ‘We live here too: Birth children's perspective's on fostering someone with learning disabilities’, Children and Society, 8(2), 164–173.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Wilson, K. & Gibbs, I. (2005) Foster placements: Why they succeed and why they fail, London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Smyth, C. & McHugh, M. (2006) ‘Exploring the dimensions of professionalising fostering: Carers' perceptions of their fostering role’, Children Australia, 31, 12–19.Google Scholar
Talbot, C. (1997) Sons and daughters of foster carers: Children and young people who foster, presentation at IFCO Conference, Vancouver.Google Scholar
Triseliotis, J., Borland, M. & Hill, M. (2000) Delivering foster care, London: Batsford.Google Scholar
Twigg, R.C. (1994) ‘The unknown soldiers of foster care: Foster care as loss for the foster parent's own children’, Smith College Studies in Social Work, 64(3), 297–312.Google Scholar
Van Manen, M. (1990) Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy, Ontario: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Watson, A. & Jones, D. (2002) ‘The impact of fostering on foster carer's own children’, Adoption and Fostering, 26(1), 49–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkes, J.R. (1974) ‘The impact of fostering on the foster family’, Child Welfare, 53(6), 373–379.Google Scholar