里親支援政策における里親会の活用に関する一考察 : 里親育成活動からチーム養育の一員へ

This paper describes the relationship between foster parent associations and policy maker in Japan through analysis how the foster care support system utilizes foster parent associations. This research investigates the law and regulations, the policy documents regarding foster care support, available from the establishment of the foster care system in 1947 to the present. This analysis reveals two findings. The first finding is that the policy maker tended to institutionalize foster care support by making systemic the foster parent training performed by the associations. In fact, the policy maker entrusted implement to foster care associations in order to utilize the associations’ practical knowledge and human resources. The second finding is that the scope of utilization of associations continues to expand institutionally. However, the use of association is contracting actually, because greater expertise for foster care support is required and ‘team parenting’ is promoted at present. Since this research mainly focused on the institutional aspect, the role played by foster parent associations in practical aspect requires further research.