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Contact visits between foster children and their birth family: the views of foster children, foster parents and social workers
Author(s) -
Salas Martínez María D.,
Fuentes María J.,
Bernedo Isabel M.,
GarcíaMartín Miguel A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/cfs.12163
Subject(s) - foster parents , foster care , intervention (counseling) , kinship , medicine , social work , psychology , developmental psychology , nursing , political science , law , economics , economic growth
It has been argued that contact visits between foster children and birth parents can help maintain attachment bonds and support the child's development. However, some research suggests that such visits can be detrimental. This study analyses the characteristics of contact visits and examines children's perceptions of the emotional relationship they have with foster carers and their biological parents. Participants were 104 non‐kinship foster children and their respective foster carers and social workers. Fifty‐six of these foster children had contact visits with their birth parents. Foster children rated the quality of their relationship with foster carers and birth parents using the A ffect S cale. Foster children, foster carers and social workers all completed the E valuation of C ontact V isits Q uestionnaire. Results showed that (i) a high proportion of children had no contact visits; (ii) the contact agreement was often not fulfilled; (iii) many visits were rated as poor quality; (iv) foster carers' evaluation of visits was more negative than that of both foster children and social workers; and (v) children who experienced poor‐quality visits and perceived less warmth and more criticism/rejection from their parents. These results highlight the need to improve contact visits by developing intervention strategies targeted at all those involved.