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Foster children are at risk for developing disorganized attachment relationships (Van den Dries et al., 2009; Vasileva & Petermann, 2018) and behavioural problems (Goemans et al., 2015; Vanschoonlandt et al., 2012). Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline – Foster Care/Adoption (VIPP-FC/A) is an intervention aimed at improving sensitive parenting in order to promote secure attachment relations and reduce behavioural problems. In this study, a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was used in order to examine the effectiveness of VIPP-FC/A in a Flemish foster care sample (n = 100), using questionnaires at three measurement moments. The hypothesis was that VIPP-FC/A would increase foster mothers' sensitive parenting and decrease the externalizing behavioural problems and insecure attachment behaviour of the foster children and parenting stress of the foster mothers. The intervention effects on these four outcome variables were analysed by constructing four multilevel models. After controlling for the baseline measurement, there was no significant main effect of condition for sensitive parenting, externalizing problems, insecure attachment behaviour and parenting stress. There was however a significant effect of condition and age on insecure attachment behaviour: within the group of youngest foster children (under 30 months), children in the intervention group scored lower insecure attachment scores than children in the control group. Additionally, there was a significant effect of condition and type of foster care on externalizing behaviour problems. In the group of children placed in kinship foster care, children in the intervention group had lower external behavior scores than children in the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people leaving foster- and residential care more often indicate having mental health problems than their peers from the general population. International research has extensively studied these mental health outcomes of care leavers. However, in Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium), no previous quantitative studies are known. This longitudinal study explores outcomes of depression, anxiety, sleep and general mental health of care leavers in Flanders and investigates if these outcomes improve in the years after leaving care. Associations with placement factors are explored to support recommendations to the clinical field. The current study involves 175 care-leavers. The participants of the study are between 18 and 27 years old at the start of the study and have all left care. Data was collected using a self-reporting questionnaire touching multiple domains. On all domains, no significant differences between foster- and residential care leavers are found. Residential care leavers more often indicate depressive symptoms than their peers from the general population. Foster care leavers more often indicate sleeping problems. Regarding anxiety, no differences are found. In all conducted analyses, the number of years in care, the age of starting and leaving care, the different types of support during care and whether aftercare was offered were included. However, none of these factors provide a sufficient explanation for the outcomes found. On all scales, the effect of gender, the number of placements and the reason of placement do recur. This indicates the importance of these factors. Policy makers should focus on improving placement stability and extra support for children who were placed due to own emotional or behavioral problems or maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Care leavers are more often unemployed, have lower annual earnings and live in inferior housing circumstances than their peers in the general population. International research has extensively studied and discussed these outcomes. However, in Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium), no previous quantitative studies are known. This study therefore explores and predicts outcomes on employment, income and housing circumstances of care leavers in Flanders and investigates if these outcomes improve in the years after leaving care. Associations with placement factors are explored to support recommendations to the clinical field. The current study involves 175 care-leavers (both family foster care (n = 105) and residential care (n = 70)). Data was collected using a self-reporting questionnaire touching multiple domains. The participants of the study (49 male, 126 female) are between 18 and 27 years old. Care leavers are employed at younger ages but are also more often unemployed than their peers from the general population, they earn significantly less than peers and are more often homeless. On all domains, no significant differences were found between foster- and residential care leavers. Placement characteristics are more declaratory than only the type of care. In the current study, most outcomes improve during the years after leaving care, this supports the theory of emerging adulthood. Although we cannot infer causal effects, care leavers who experienced fewer placement changes and received individual therapy during their time in care tend to have better outcomes in the current study. The same applies for care leavers who were prepared for leaving care and supported after leaving care. Policy makers should focus on increased support regarding breakdown prevention and individual mental health support during the time in care. Preparation for placement ending and aftercare should be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family foster care is the option of choice in case of out-of-home placements in Flanders, resulting in rising numbers of family foster care placements. As a number of the foster children experienced traumatic events and all of them were separated from their primary caregivers, concerns can be raised about the quality of attachment between foster children and their foster carers. Additionally, international research regarding associated factors with attachment quality is scarce and inconclusive and to our knowledge, Flemish research into this matter was non-existent. The sample of this research consisted out of 68 young foster children and their foster mothers. The attachment behavior was scored by the foster mothers on the Attachment Insecurity Screening Index. The mean for the total Attachment Insecurity Screening Index was non-clinical, but significantly higher than the mean of the norm group, this points to foster mothers perceiving more insecure attachment behavior in the relationship with their foster children. The rates for insecure attachment were comparable to the regular population. Parenting stress and problem behavior were positively associated with insecure attachment scores and, negatively with self-reported sensitivity of foster mothers. These factors were entered in a multiple linear regression model. This model shows that higher levels of parenting stress and more behavior problems were associated with higher insecure attachment scores. We recommend to pay sufficient attention to the attachment relationship of foster children and their foster carers, parenting stress and behavior problems by monitoring them regularly and providing additional support and interventions when these are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research consistently shows that both foster- and residential care leavers achieve lower levels of educational qualification in comparison to the general population. However, in Western society, education remains an important gateway to success in employment, income and housing opportunities. This study explores and predicts educational achievement of care leavers in Flanders and investigates the effect of educational attainment on other outcomes (employment, income and housing). The study involves 220 care leavers (both family foster care (n = 138) and residential care (n = 82)). Data was collected using a self-reporting questionnaire touching multiple domains. The participants of the study (77 male, 143 female) are between 21 and 27 years old. Both foster- and residential care leavers achieve significantly lower qualifications, earn less and more often experience homelessness than their peers from the general population. Residential care leavers achieve lower qualifications and are more often unemployed than foster care leavers. Multiple regression analyses indicate that the level of qualification is a key factor in determining the results on employment, income and education. More placements and less support during the time in care are significantly associated with lower educational achievements. This lower qualification brings significantly higher risks of unemployment, financial- and housing obstacles in the long term. It is therefore important to support young care leavers in attaining their qualification, therefore providing equal opportunities in our society. Policy makers should focus on increased support regarding education during the time in care. School- and placement changes should be minimized, and society ought to invest in psychological support during placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foster children are known to be at high risk for developing attachment problems. Moreover, their associated behavioural problems can be a burden for the foster family and increase the risk of placement breakdown. A sensitive parenting style promotes a secure attachment which, in turn, can reduce the chance of difficulties arising and protect against placement disruption. Interventions using video-feedback of parent–child interactions offer a method of increasing parental sensitivity and improving the quality of the parent–child attachment. The intervention discussed in this article was part of a wider initiative, Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD), fashioned to promote sensitive parenting, secure attachment and a reduction in children's behavioural problems. Its effectiveness has been shown for a variety of target groups. A variant of the approach was developed specifically for foster and adopted children, Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline – Foster Care/Adoption (VIPP-FC/A). This article discusses the design and delivery of the intervention and illustrates these with case material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout and compassion satisfaction (CS) in Flemish foster care workers (FCW) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even though child welfare workers are at increased risk for STS and burnout, these constructs have not been studied in FCW so far. Additionally, the COVID-19 measures severely impacted Flemish FCW's work, personal and client environment, possibly stimulating the onset of STS and burnout and weakening CS. Moreover, this study aims to identify the work, client and personal factors determining high levels of STS and burnout and low levels of CS among FCW during the lockdown. STS, burnout and CS levels from 434 Flemish FCW were inquired with the Professional Quality of Life Scale. Low mean levels of STS and moderate mean levels of burnout and CS were reported during the lockdown. FCW who experienced a negative impact of COVID-19 measures on their work, had a high amount of worrisome placements due to birth parents in their caseload and low emotional stability are an at-risk group for both STS and burnout during the lockdown. CS was strongly determined by the impact of the COVID-19 measures on work and personality traits. Emotional stability determined the three outcome variables, making this a key characteristics for FCW during the lockdown. Consequently, during adverse circumstances, foster care agencies should pay extra attention and offer additional support to those FCW they estimate emotionally less stable and who struggle with the birth parents in their caseload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foster children often had negative experiences in the past, which can contribute to attachment problems. In their meta-analysis, van den Dries et al. found that foster children were more often disorganized attached when compared to the general population. It is to be expected that the quality of attachment between the foster children and their foster parents is related to various factors. However, research into which factors are associated with the development of secure attachment is scarce. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, a total of 13 articles were included in this review. This review provides an overview of the associated characteristics with the quality of attachment between foster carers and foster children. In the articles included in this review, the foster carers' characteristics were often described as more important than characteristics of the foster child and placement when it comes to developing a secure attachment. The most consensus, although not unanimous, existed on the finding that a positive, sensitive parenting style of foster parents was positively related to a secure attachment between the foster children and their foster carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]