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The voice of the foster carers’ biological child

Kirti Zeijlmans MSc University of GroningenDr. Elly Singer University of AmsterdamDrs. Adimka Uzozie Stichting Alexander

Made possible by: Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland

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Introduction2

› Impact (Serbinski & Shlonsky, 2014; Hojer, 2007; Buyl, 2006; Part, 1993; Poland & Groze, 1993)

› Involvement

(Hojer, 2007; Reed, 1994; Watson & Jones, 2002)

› Influence(Pugh, 1996; Serbinski & Shlonsky, 2014)

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How do biological children cope with having a new foster brother or sister?

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Method

› Interviews Semi-structured Retrospective

› 30 biological children of foster carers (Guest, Bunce, & Johnson, 2006; Mason, 2010)

Non-kinship foster care Long term foster care

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Method - participants5

Child characteristics

Distribution

Gender 15 boys15 girls

Age Min 7Max 21M 14,77

Age at onset foster care

Min 0Max 20M 6,91

Family characteristics

Distribution

Active in care Min 0Max 21M 7,24

Amount of children

Min 1Max 39M 11,42

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Method – interview content› Focus child› Privacy and anonymity› Chronology of the placement› Concrete questions for emotions (Miltenburg, Singer &

Doornenbal, 1996)

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Visual tools7

(Okma-Rayzer, 2006)

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Data analysis› Stepwise coding with two researchers› Third researcher for conflicts› Inductive coding› Research team meeting

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Results Before the placement› Adjustment period – changes› Adjustment period – emotions

“I liked it, but I also had my doubts. They had given a lot of negative information on her about her lying, cheating, being unreliable and having a temper.”

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Results› Before the placement Adjustment period – changes› Adjustment period – emotions

“When eating french fries, we used to eat with our hands. After the placement we weren’t allowed anymore, because that would be a bad example.”

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Results› Before the placement› Adjustment period – changesAdjustment period – emotions

“I was proud that we, as a family, were able to do this. That we are so stable that having a foster child is possible and doesn’t have a lot of negative affect.”

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Results› Before the placement› Adjustment period – changesAdjustment period – emotions

“I’m happy she’s in our family, but she is of course in a bad situation and very sad. Then I feel guilty about being happy or something...”

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› Is it ok to be happy with having him as a foster sibling, even though it’s sad for him that he has to live here?

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› Is it ok to be happy with having him as a foster sibling, even though it’s sad for him that he has to live here?

› Can I be angry because he receives more attention from my parents, even though he clearly needs it more?

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› Is it ok to be happy with having him as a foster sibling, even though it’s sad for him that he has to live here?

› Can I be angry because he receives more attention from my parents, even though he clearly needs it more?

› Is it fair to be jealous about the present he receives from his parents, even though he is less fortuned than I am?

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Conclusion › Biological children

need to adjust are willing to help come across complex concerns

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Implications› Research› Policy and practice

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“The adjustment period can be confusing or even difficult for the biological children of foster

parents. Most of them know how to deal with these difficulties, but it is important that they

continue to feel understood and valued”

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Questions? 19

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Thank you

More information: k.zeijlmans@rug.nl

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