Articles

Criteria for foster care placements: linking research and practice

Authors

  • Linda H.J. Emans University of Nijmegen
  • Luk M.H. Robbroeckx University of Nijmegen

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the criteria for the referral of children to foster care in the Netherlands. First the authors present a short overview of the organization of foster care. They then discuss the clients' psychosocial characteristics and link these to the care workers' decision to place children in foster care. Data were gathered by means of a questionnaire distributed among seven agencies and 120 children, ranging in age from three months to 17 years. The findings were quite astonishing. In about one third of cases studied, children had been referred to foster care without clear indications that such care would actually be beneficial to them.

Author Biographies

Linda H.J. Emans, University of Nijmegen

Linda H.J. Emans, Department of Special Education and Child Guidance, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Luk M.H. Robbroeckx, University of Nijmegen

Luk M.H. Robbroeckx, Department of Special Education and Child Guidance, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Published

1997-03-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (1997)

Section

Articles