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Foster children's views of their birth parents: A review of the literature

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  • Baker, Amy J.L.
  • Creegan, Alyssa
  • Quinones, Alexa
  • Rozelle, Laura

Abstract

Several bodies of research, theory, and practice document that even maltreated children develop and maintain attachment relationships with their parents. While this attachment can confound clinicians, it can be understood from an evolutionary perspective: Attachments – even with abusive parents – increase the survival of the species by ensuring that dependent infants and children in danger will seek proximity and comfort from a caregiving adult. Despite the phenomenon being well documented, a missing piece from the literature is whether children – who have alternative caregiving options – will still express attachment to their maltreating parent. To address this question, 27 studies in which children currently in foster care were interviewed were coded for presence/absence of three expressions of attachment: (1) Yearning for the birth parents (2) fear and anxiety due to separation from the birth parents and (3) minimization of the maltreatment perpetrated against them by the birth family. We also asked whether, despite the presence of attachment, maltreated children would express relief upon removal from the home of the birth parent. Most of the studies reported that at least some children expressed these four related beliefs, providing important insight for clinicians working with maltreated children.

Suggested Citation

  • Baker, Amy J.L. & Creegan, Alyssa & Quinones, Alexa & Rozelle, Laura, 2016. "Foster children's views of their birth parents: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 177-183.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:67:y:2016:i:c:p:177-183
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.06.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Messing, Jill Theresa, 2006. "From the child's perspective: A qualitative analysis of kinship care placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 1415-1434, December.
    2. Buchanan, Ann, 1995. "Young people's views on being looked after in out-of-home-care under The Children Act 1989," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(5-6), pages 681-696.
    3. Hyde, Justeen & Kammerer, Nina, 2009. "Adolescents' perspectives on placement moves and congregate settings: Complex and cumulative instabilities in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 265-273, February.
    4. Geenen, Sarah & Powers, Laurie E., 2007. ""Tomorrow is another problem": The experiences of youth in foster care during their transition into adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1085-1101, August.
    5. Brown, Stephanie & Cohon, Don & Wheeler, Rachel, 2002. "African American extended families and kinship care: how relevant is the foster care model for kinship care?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1-2), pages 53-77.
    6. Mitchell, Monique B. & Kuczynski, Leon, 2010. "Does anyone know what is going on? Examining children's lived experience of the transition into foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 437-444, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Omar, Nada & Refaeli, Tehila, 2023. "Effects of the removal of Arab children from their homes by court order: The mothers’ perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Vicki Welch, 2018. "Talking Back to ‘Family’, ‘Family Troubles’, and ‘the Looked-after Child’," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 23(1), pages 197-218, March.
    3. Cesar, Gabriel T & Decker, Scott H., 2020. "“CPS Sucks, but… I think I’m better off in the system:” Family, social support, & arts-based mentorship in child protective services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Mauri, Diletta, 2023. "«Becoming parents as mending the past»: care-experienced parents and the relationship with their birth family," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).

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