Longitudinal Study of Long-Term Fostering

The article presents a summary of main results of the first stage of longitudinal study on the characteristics of child bringing-up in conditions of long-term fostering. Full results of this stage are presented in the book “Growing up in Foster Care” (Gillian Schofield, Mary Beek, Kay Sargent, June Thoburn, BAAF, London, 2000). The longitudinal study has started in the UK in 1998, designed for 10-15 years. The study involves 58 children of 4 to 12 years old, placed in foster families and supposed to stay there until adult age. The book consists of introduction, three parts and conclusion. Part I describes children’s characteristics and their history, the practical work and the plans set by social workers, as well as foster educators motivation. The role of natural relatives and the causes of children placement in a foster family are mentioned as well. Part II outlines characteristics of children behavior in a new family and the care that was provided by the foster educators. Part III specifies the nature of support that was provided by social workers to foster family, perspectives of natural family and questions related to contacts of foster family with natural family. Conclusion contains the main findings of the study that clarify understanding of the long-term fostering.