Abstract
A quality of life studies perspective has guided the design and implementation of research on kinship care as a placement resource within the child protection system in Catalonia (Spain). This research was carried out gathering the points of view of the three main stakeholders: kinship caregivers, children who are placed in extended family and practitioners of the EAIAs (Childhood and Adolescence Interdisciplinary Care Teams). Satisfaction involved in kinship care has been explored. In this article the main stakeholders’ satisfaction with kinship care is presented, and on the other hand, children’s satisfaction with life as a whole and with five specific domains in life is analysed: Education received from their caregiver, their school, their friends, their time enjoyment and their health. As expected, practitioners show the lowest evaluations with this kind of service. Surprisingly, evaluations by children referred to kinship care and to education received by caregivers are higher than those in the normative population aged 12–16 in relation to their own natural family. The findings show implications for practice and they imply challenges for quality-of-life research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berrick JD, Needell B, Barth RP (1999) Kin as a family and child welfare resource. The child welfare worker’s perspective. In: Hegar R, Scannapieco M (eds) Kinship foster care: policy, practice and research. Oxford University Press, New York
Broad B (ed) (2001) Kinship care: the placement choice for children and young people. Russell House Publishing, Dorset (UK)
Casas F (1994) Decentralization of services for children: the Spanish experience. I.C.D.C.-UNICEF, Florencia
Casas F, Montserrat C (2002) Interdisciplinary teams and decisions making in child protection systems: the experience of Catalonia. Int J Child Fam Welf 4:146–158
Casas F, Cornejo JM, Colton M, Scholte E (2000) Perceptions of stigmatization and satisfaction with services received, among users of social welfare services for the child and family in 3 European regions. Soc Indic Res 51:287–309
Casas F, Alsinet C, Rosich M, Huebner ES, Laughlin JE (2001) Cross-cultural investigation of the multidimensional life satisfaction scale with spanish adolescents. In: Casas F, Saurina C (eds) Proceedings of the third conference of the international society for quality of life studies, Girona, 20–22 juliol 2000. Col·lecció Diversitas 27: Universitat de Girona, pp 359–366
Casas F, Figuer C, González M, Coenders G (2004) Satisfaction with life domains and salient values for future among children and their parents in 5 different countries. In: Glatzer W, von Below S, Stoffregen M (eds) Challenges for quality of life in the contemporary world, 24
Casas F, Figuer C, González M, Malo S, Alsinet C, Subarroca S (2007) The well-being of twelve to sixteen year-old adolescents and their parents: Results from 1999 and 2003 Spanish samples. Soc Indic Res (in press)
Centro Nazionale di Documentazione e Analisi per l’Infanzia e l’Adolescenza (2002) I bambini e gli adolescenti in affidamento familiare. Rassegna tematica e riscontri empirici. Istituto degli Innocenti, Firenze. http://www.minori.it
Dubowitz H, Feigelman S, Zuravin S (1993) A profile of kinship care. Child Welf 72(2):153–169
Farmer E (2001) Children reunited with their parents: a review of research findings. In: Broad B (ed) Kinship care: the placement choice for children and young people. Russell House Publishing, Dorset (UK)
Hegar RL, Scannapieco M (eds) (1999) Kinship foster care: policy, practice and research. Oxford University Press, New York
Hunt J (2003) Family and friends carers. Scoping paper prepared for the Department of Health. DoH, London. http://www.doh.gov.uk/carers/familyandfriends.htm
Kelley SJ, Whitley D, Sipe TA, Yorker BC (2000) Psychological distress in grandmother kinship care providers: the role of resources, social support and physical health. Child Abuse Negl 24(3):311–321
Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales (2003) Situación general de las medidas de protección a la infancia. Dirección General de las familias y la infancia. http://www.mtas.es/SGAS/FamiliaInfanc.htm
Montserrat C (2006a) Benestar i acolliment d’infants en família extensa: percepcions, avaluacions i aspiracions dels principals agents implicats. Doctoral dissertation, Girona, University of Girona. http://www.tesisenxarxa.net/TDX-1102106-105230/
Montserrat C (2006b) Acogimiento en familia extensa: un estudio desde la perspectiva de los acogedores, de los niños y niñas acogidos y de los profesionales que intervienen. Intervención Psicosocial 15, 2
Needell B, Courtney ME (1997) Outcomes of kinship care: lessons from California. In: Berrick JD, Barth R (eds) Child welfare research review, vol 2. Columbia University Press, New York
Pitcher D (2002) Placement with grandparents. The issues for grandparents who care for their grandchildren. Adopt Foster 26(1):6–14
Shlonsky A, Berrick J (2001) Assessing and promoting quality in kin and nonkin foster care. Soc Serv Rev 3:6–83
Solomon JC, Marx J (1995) To grandmothers house we go. Health and school adjustment of children raised solely by grandparents. Gerontologist 35:386–394
Starr R, Dubowitz H, Harrington D, Feigelman S (1999) Behavior problems of teens in kinship care. Cross-informant reports. In: Hegar R, Scannapieco M (eds) Kinship foster care: policy, practice and research. Oxford University Press, New York
Villalba C (2002) Abuelas cuidadoras. Tirant Lo Blanc, Valencia
Wilson L, Conroy J (1999) Satisfaction of children in out of home care. Child Welf 78(1):53–69
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Montserrat, C., Casas, F. Kinship Foster Care from the Perspective of Quality of Life: Research on the Satisfaction of the Stakeholders. Applied Research Quality Life 1, 227–237 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-007-9018-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-007-9018-2