Understanding contact between children in out-of-home care and their family of origin : Maltese foster carers’ viewpoints

Abstract

Foster carers are amongst the main actors facing the challenges on a day-to- day basis when contact related issues arise. Twenty-one Maltese foster carers reported their views about contact and discussed the benefits and their concerns regarding contact between fostered children and the families of origin. Foster carers’ views were elicited and subjected to a thematic analysis. This paper presents different themes reported by foster carers about contact between children and the families of origin. Emotions were present when contact experiences were discussed by foster carers. Despite the difficulties and apprehension, carers believed in children maintaining contact. Some carers even went to great lengths in supporting children to establish contact with their families of origin. This paper also explores how managing contact is mitigated through the support of social work intervention.