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Are we setting children in care and their care givers up to fail?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2018

Nicola Atwool*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work, University of Otago
*
address for correspondence: Nicola Atwool, Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work, University of Otago – Te Whare Wananga o Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. E-mail: nicola.atwool@otago.ac.nz

Abstract

The question in the title is addressed by exploring the challenges inherent in providing care for children who are unable to live with their birth families. It is argued that failure to interrogate the assumptions underlying traditional foster care and take account of changes in family structure and socioeconomic circumstances has created a situation in which children in care and their care givers are being set up to fail. Changes needed to address this are outlined.

Type
Opinion Piece
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

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