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The Concept of ‘family’ among Norwegian adolescents in long-term foster care

Ellingsen, Ingunn T., Shemmings, David, Størksen, Ingunn (2011) The Concept of ‘family’ among Norwegian adolescents in long-term foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 28 (4). pp. 301-318. ISSN 0738-0151. (doi:10.1007/s10560-011-0234-0) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34510)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10560-011-0234-0

Abstract

In Norway, about 8,000 children live in foster homes (about 3.300 in age group 13–17). What does ‘family’ mean to these children? We explored the views and feelings about ‘family’ among 22 adolescents who are living in long-term foster care. Three patterns emerged. Most of the participants expressed confidence and adjustment in the foster home placement and felt bonded to both their foster family and to their birth family. Other adolescents expressed a strong sense of membership to their birth family but not to their foster family, and the remaining adolescents described a weak bond to birth family but a strong bond to their foster family. The main implications of the three patterns are discussed in the light of policy and practice.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s10560-011-0234-0
Uncontrolled keywords: Family, foster children, q-methodology, attachment, resilience
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Mita Mondal
Date Deposited: 03 Jul 2013 09:00 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:11 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34510 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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