Kinship Foster Children: Actors in their encounter with the Child Protection System. (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thørnblad, Renee; Holtan, Amy
• Is Part Of: Qualitative social work. Volume 12:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 307
• Page End: 322
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Child protection system -- childhood -- client relations -- empowerment -- foster children -- kinship foster care -- participation -- power -- qualitative method -- social actors -- sociology; Social service -- Periodicals; Social service -- Research -- Periodicals; Social service -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; 361.305
• DOI: 10.1177/1473325011428187
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-3250

Abstract

This article explores foster children's agency in their encounters with Child Protection Services (CPS). The article draws on semi-structured interviews with former and present foster children aged 18–22, who have grown up in kinship foster homes in state custody. During their childhood, there has been increased emphasis on client participation within CPS. Based on a sociological framework we understand the relationship between CPS and its clients as an asymmetric power relation. The analyses demonstrate that foster children in kinship care are actors with different motivations and competencies for participation and co-determination within CPS. We point out four types of agency, which range from the agent as an equal, active participant in a cooperative relationship with CPS – to the agent as a powerless client in a relationship marked by distrust.