PR2 - Focus group experience in Romania and Portugal

Complementary to the first project result, the second result of the Creating Care project  consists in designing a tool for understanding foster families’ needs, perceptions and experiences. With that in mind we would like to share some of the findings of the focus groups the partners have been conducting with families and children.  

Romania

In Romania, we discussed with seven foster care professionals and one official who is a case manager for children in placement care. 

The main obstacles professionals in the foster care system and children face

• poor education of the public and the staff
• a stigmatization of children placed in foster care
• beaurocracy
• financial compensation and lack of support
• little holidays - the staff needs to perform despite tiredness, stress
  accumulation or any other situations that might occur.

What are the key elements/factors leading a successful foster care system?
Experienced foster parents advise those at the beginning of this profession to be committed and not to see fostering as a normal profession, as the affective component is very essential. For this, it is important having the foster parent actively involved, offering affection, moral support, and openness to take the child to do different extracurricular activities such as sports activities, where he/she can make friends.

---

Portugal

In Portugal our discussion was conducted with three foster care mothers. The professional background of the participants was in education, special needs education and investigation.

What kind of obstacles did you face after becoming a foster family?

The obstacles pointed out by the participants were linked mostly to the characteristics of the child, articulation with the biological family, the time it takes to court to decide regarding the life plan for the child, lack of support from the professionals, adaptation to the new family settings, as well as bureaucratic and logistic difficulties. 

What kind of obstacles do the children face in foster care?

• Adaptation to the new reality and family
• Psychological issues
• Eating disorders & health issues
• School difficulties
• Lack of routine and notion of family
• Articulation with biological family

What factors do you think are decisive in successful fostering?
​​

• Good relationship with the foster care family
• A good team of professionals that provides support
  
• A real and not “sugar-coated” preparation of the foster care parents
  
• Don't pressure the families towards school achievements and fast progress
• Clarification of the roles
• Provide time to develop the relationship
  
• Successful articulation between all parts involved