Fostering Kinship An International Perspective on Kinship Foster Care

First published in 1999, this work draws together a multi-national collection of papers, and aims to stimulate the development of policy and practice in this often neglected area. It aims to offer examples of good social work practice, informed by relevant theoretical insights; to give a voice to kinship foster carers and young people so that practice can be informed by an understanding of their experience; to share the results of current research; to highlight issues for policy makers; and to place the issues in the wider international context of developing social policy, ideology and social change. There are contributions from the UK, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, the US and NewZealand.

1. Kinship, Fostering, Obligations and the State, Roger Greeff. 2. The Continuing Role of Kinship Care in a Changing Society, Zofia Waleria Stelmaszuk. 3. Kinship Fostering: Research, Policy and Practice in England, Roger Greeff, Suzette Waterhouse, Edwina Brocklesby. 4. Assessing Family Strengths: A Family Systems Approach, Riet Portengen , Bart van der Neut. 5. Kinship Fostering and Child Protection, Janet Foulds. 6. Placement Choices for Children: Giving More Priority to Kinship Placements? Suzette Waterhouse, Edwina Brocklesby. 7. Working with Family Complexity: Supporting the Network, Hermien Marchand, Wilfried Meulenbergs. 8. Evolving Networks in Relative Care: Alliance and Exclusion, Valerie O’Brien. 9. Training Needs of Friends and Families Who Are Foster Carers, Julia Waldman, Ann Wheal. 10. Kinship Foster Care in New York State: An African-American Perspective, Joan M. Williams. 11. Fostering in a Minority Community: Travellers in Ireland. 12. Kinship Care in New Zealand: Cultural Sensitivity or Economic Expediency? Jill Worrall.