Ecological-Dynamic Approach to the Psychological Support of Foster Families

The article continues the discussion on psychological support for substitute families. The tasks put before psychologists as a result of changes in legislation concerning family living arrangement for children left without parental care are discussed. A review of new empirical data on personality development of former foster children and the possibilities of substitute families in compensation of disorders that are part of the structure of the "orphan symptom" is presented. The reasons hindering this process are identified. The similar phenomena of maternal attitude development in foster mothers and former foster children are described. The influence of psychological problems in fostering mothers on the autonomy and trust among foster children is discussed. The ecological-dynamic approach to the psychological support of foster families is justified. The system of targets in the social, family, interpersonal and intrapsychic contexts is presented along with dynamics of its formation and development. The structure of psychological support, types and content of the psychologist’ activities are described.

For the beginning refer to Oslon V. N. Concept of psychological support for substitute families // Psychological Science and Education. 2009. № 3.

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