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“The Way All Foster Care Should Be”: The Experience of Therapeutic Foster Carers in the Victorian Circle Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2014

Margarita Frederico ,
Maureen Long ,
Patricia McNamara  and
Lynne McPherson
Margarita Frederico*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
Maureen Long
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
Patricia McNamara
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
Lynne McPherson
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Associate Professor Margarita Frederico, Department of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3068, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Central to the success of therapeutic foster care (TFC) is the quality and stability of the relationship between the child and carer. This key relationship may, from a therapeutic perspective, facilitate healing by addressing the impact of complex developmental trauma experienced by the child who has been placed in care. Stability of the carer–child relationship is critical in this context. Therapeutic carers have been shown to be significantly more likely to remain in the role of carer than their counterparts in mainstream foster care. The research reported on in this paper draws upon findings from an evaluation of a TFC programme and gives voice to the Circle Carers, presenting the components of TFC which are important to them. The paper commences with the story of Ruby in TFC as told by a carer. The focus then becomes a detailed exploration of the experience of carers and their capacity to care. Implications for practice are identified.

Keywords

therapeutic foster carecarerschildren and young peopleout-of-home care
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 39 , Issue 4: ATTACHMENT AND TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICE , December 2014 , pp. 211 - 215
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2014 

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