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Short-term family foster care in Flanders: An exploratory study into the factors associated with family reunification decisions

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  • Van Holen, Frank
  • Belenger, Laurence
  • Carlier, Elke
  • Potoms, Babette
  • Vanderfaeillie, Johan

Abstract

Since the entry into force of the foster care decree in Flanders (01/01/2014), a distinction is made between short-term and long-term family foster care. In short-term foster care, a foster child is placed in a foster family for at most one year with the aim of reunification, or, if this is not possible, clarifying the child's future (long-term family foster care or residential care). The present study is the first to examine reunification rates and characteristics associated with reunification decisions in Flemish short-term foster care. Case files of 125 short-term foster care placements that started after 01/01/2014 and ended before 31/12/2015 of all Flemish foster care agencies were analyzed. Short-term foster care resulted in 27% of the cases in a reunification. Bivariate analyses showed that seventeen variables were significantly associated with a reunification. Inclusion of these variables in a logistic regression model resulted in a significant model that explained 52% of the variance, with the only predictive variable being the pedagogical skills of the mother at the end of the placement. This is promising. It implies that in developing a methodology to promote reunification, improving the pedagogical skills of mothers must be given a prominent place.

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  • Van Holen, Frank & Belenger, Laurence & Carlier, Elke & Potoms, Babette & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2018. "Short-term family foster care in Flanders: An exploratory study into the factors associated with family reunification decisions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 699-708.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:94:y:2018:i:c:p:699-708
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.09.020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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