Foster care research in Germany: a critical review.
Adoption & Fostering › Vol. 32 Nbr. 2, June 2008
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Foster care research in Germany: a critical review.
Introduction
To understand a specific branch of research in a particular country, we need to be familiar with the conditions and structures that facilitate the dissemination of research findings. In this article, I will outline the contextual situation of German research as generated by the political system, the organisation of academic life and work in various theoretical disciplines. Then I will present findings from eight studies that have led to significant insights into the process of growing up in foster families. Finally, I would like to suggest how these findings can be related to one another in a synopsis of the kind suggested by the German social philosopher, Norbert Elias (eg 1981, 1984, 1987, 2001). In contemporary Germany with its population of 82.4 million, there are 50,364 children and young people living in family foster care and 61,806 in residential homes (statistics from 31 December 2005). These figures contrast with those in the UK, especially with regard to the proportions of children placed in foster homes and residential care. In addition, adoption is much less frequent, mainly because of opposition by birth parents. Still, 'raising children in homes' can assume widely divergent forms (Freigang and Wolf, 2001), including professional social workers living together with a small number of children in what is a virtually private household but organised, financed and supported by a welfare agency. In Germany, national law (Kinder-und Jugendhilfegesetz) defines the legal status of both mobile and stationary forms of youth care. The former includes youth counselling, family support and individual help for young people living with their families; the latter comprises residential homes and family foster care. This law also determines professional standards, prescribes procedures for support services and regulates their funding. Nonetheless, it is usually the municipal authorities that have the task of designing and delivering services, and this produces variations in policy and practice, even in neighbouring municipalities. Until a few years ago, there was no tradition in Germany of centralised management, national evaluation or nationwide programmes. However, this is now beginning to change, not least in response ...See the full content of this document
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