Jorge F. del Valle

Características y desarrollo del acogimiento familiar en dos países con fuerte tradición de acogimiento residencial: España y Portugal

Fostering processes that occur in each country depend on historical and cultural factors that give rise to large international differences. Despite the fact that international comparisons offer a way of exchanging experiences, allowing mutual learning and transfer of good practice, we often encounter major barriers for its completion due to limited access to data on child protection practice, among other factors. Given these limitations, this article provides a comparative study conducted in Spain and Portugal. The aim is the evaluation of family foster care interventions in two countries where research in the field of child protection has traditionally been neglected. The profile of foster children, families of origin and foster families, as well as the features of the fostering processes were studied in a sample of 357 cases in Spain and 289 in Portugal. The comparison revealed significant differences related to the older age of Spanish foster children at the beginning of the foster placement. The profile of foster carers revealed older age, low educational level and frequent situations of multiple placements in Portugal. The comparative study has identified areas that require further attention in both countries, such as the generational shift of foster carers in Portugal or the need to speed up the decision-making processes for entry into a family foster placement in Spain. This article intends to be an encouragement for data collection and comparison in other Latin American countries.

Therapeutic residential care for children and youth: a consensus statement of the International Work Group on Therapeutic Residential Care

While the focus of this consensus statement and the review volume that preceded it (Whittaker, Del Valle, & Holmes, 2014) is on therapeutic residential care (TRC), a specialized form of group care, we view our work as supportive of a much wider effort internationally concerned with the quality of care children receive when, for a variety of reasons, they need to live away from their families.

Examining Needs and Referrals to Mental Health Services for Children in Residential Care in Spain: An Empirical Study in an Autonomous Community

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of mental health disorders in children living in residential care and their use of therapeutic services, including the relationship between these factors and social-family and intervention process variables, as well as the relationship among the disorders identified by professionals and the detection of disorders by means of a screening instrument. We studied a sample from the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in Spain made up of 264 children ages 6 to 18 years. Data collected from residential care workers on the children’s characteristics and the existence of disorders and possible treatments were used, as well as the Child Behavioral Checklist as a screening instrument. In addition, the case social workers provided information on social-family and intervention process variables. Results show that 26% of the children in residential care were receiving or had received treatment for mental health disorders. Seventeen percent of the total presented mental disability, and in half of these cases, they were also being treated for mental disorder. The screening test, however, detected that cases with clinical range accounted for 44% of the children and that there was considerable bias in relation to referrals for treatment.

El acogimiento en familia ajena en España. Una evaluación de la práctica y sus resultados

Resumen El acogimiento familiar ha de ser la medida prioritaria para los casos de menores que deben ser separados de su familia por motivos de protección. En España es una alternativa que cuenta tan sólo con veinte años de existencia y hasta la fecha no existen prácticamente datos acerca del grado de su implantación y sus características cuando se trata de acogimiento en familia ajena, mientras que son varios los trabajos que han estudiado el acogimiento en familia extensa. Este artículo presenta por primera vez en la literatura científica los datos más relevantes que permiten caracterizar la práctica del acogimiento en familia ajena en España, mediante el estudio de una muestra de seis comunidades autónomas bien representativas, con un total de 357 casos. El artículo presenta los perfiles de los niños, las familias biológicas y acogedoras, el proceso y algunos resultados sobre una submuestra de casos cerrados (n = 179). Se analizarán algunas características especialmente importantes como la larga estancia y la estabilidad de estos acogimientos, que los diferencia de los realizados en otros países.

Characteristics and Development of Foster Care in Two Countries with a Strong Tradition of Residential Care: Spain and Portugal

Fostering processes that occur in each country depend on historical and cultural factors that give rise to large international differences. Despite the fact that international comparisons offer a way of exchanging experiences, allowing mutual learning and transfer of good practice, we often encounter major barriers for its completion due to limited access to data on child protection practice, among other factors. Given these limitations, this article provides a comparative study conducted in Spain and Portugal. The aim is the evaluation of family foster care interventions in two countries where research in the field of child protection has traditionally been neglected. The profile of foster children, families of origin and foster families, as well as the features of the fostering processes were studied in a sample of 357 cases in Spain and 289 in Portugal. The comparison revealed significant differences related to the older age of Spanish foster children at the beginning of the foster placement. The profile of foster carers revealed older age, low educational level and frequent situations of multiple placements in Portugal. The comparative study has identified areas that require further attention in both countries, such as the generational shift of foster carers in Portugal or the need to speed up the decision-making processes for entry into a family foster placement in Spain. This article intends to be an encouragement for data collection and comparison in other Latin American countries.

Acogimiento residencial terapéutico para niños y adolescentes : una declaración de consenso del grupo de trabajo Internacional Sobre Acogimiento Residencial Terapéutico

Therapeutic Residential Care for Children and Youth: A Consensus Statement of the International Work Group on Therapeutic Residential Care. In many developed countries around the world residential care interventions for children and adolescents have come under increasing scrutiny. Against this background an international summit was organised in England (spring 2016) with experts from 13 countries to reflect on therapeutic residential care (TRC). The following working definition of TRC was leading: “Therapeutic residential care involves the planful use of a purposefully constructed, multi-dimensional living environment designed to enhance or provide treatment, education, socialization, support, and protection to children and youth with identified mental health or behavioral needs in partnership with their families and in collaboration with a full spectrum of community based formal and informal helping resources”. The meeting was characterised by exchange of information and evidence, and by preparing an international research agenda. In addition, the outlines of a consensus statement on TRC were discussed. This statement, originally published in English and now reproduced in a Spanish translation, comprises inter alia five basic principles of care that according to the Work Group on Therapeutic Residental Care should be guiding for residential youth care provided at any time.

Children and young people with intellectual disability in residential childcare: Prevalence of mental health disorders and therapeutic interventions: Children with intellectual disability

Children with intellectual disability are more likely to suffer abuse and neglect. Therefore, they are over-represented among children in childcare interventions, particularly in residential childcare. The main goal of this article was to explore the correlates of mental health diseases in a sample of 169 children (6–18 years old) in residential care with intellectual disability compared with a group of 625 children, also in residential care but without disability. Results show that the prevalence of intellectual disability in residential childcare in Spain is about 19%, which is significant due to their special needs. In addition to this disability, they have a higher frequency of clinical problems in the scales of withdrawal-depression, thought problems, attention problems and, above all, social problems than do their peers in residential care. They are also referred more frequently to therapeutic services, in particular to psychiatric intervention and they receive more pharmacological treatments.

Therapeutic residential care in Spain. Population treated and therapeutic coverage

Therapeutic residential care (TRC) is the name given to specialized childrens homes for treating cases with severe emotional and behavioural problems that have been placed in residential care. A recent international review has revealed great diversity in the referral criteria of cases and in the models of intervention carried out. The goal of this study is to describe the population treated in these types of facilities in Spain and the therapeutic coverage given. The sample is made up of 215 young people in childrens homes, of whom 93 are in TRC. The cases referred to TRC have been in residential care for less time but have gone through a greater number of placements. These young people also exhibit more problems of drug use, and there is a larger percentage of clinical-range cases in the Child Behaviour Checklist scales of attention problems and aggressive behaviour. Nevertheless, the results of logistic regression indicate that the only variables that significantly increase the probability of being referred to TRC are drug use and changes of care placements. With regard to therapeutic care, there is a higher percentage in the TRC group receiving psychiatric care, and the sessions are also more frequent.

School Functioning of a Particularly Vulnerable Group: Children and Young People in Residential Child Care

A large proportion of the children and young people in residential child care in Spain are there as a consequence of abuse and neglect in their birth families. Research has shown that these types of adverse circumstances in childhood are risk factors for emotional and behavioral problems, as well as difficulties in adapting to different contexts. School achievement is related to this and represents one of the most affected areas. Children in residential child care exhibit extremely poor performance and difficulties in school functioning which affects their transition to adulthood and into the labor market. The main aim of this study is to describe the school functioning of a sample of 1,216 children aged between 8 and 18 living in residential child care in Spain. The specific needs of children with intellectual disability and unaccompanied migrant children were also analyzed. Relationships with other variables such as gender, age, mental health needs, and other risk factors were also explored. In order to analyze school functioning in this vulnerable group, the sample was divided into different groups depending on school level and educational needs. In the vast majority of cases, children were in primary or compulsory secondary education (up to age 16), this group included a significant proportion of cases in special education centers. The rest of the sample were in vocational training or post-compulsory secondary school. Results have important implications for the design of socio-educative intervention strategies in both education and child care systems in order to promote better school achievement and better educational qualifications in this vulnerable group.

Family Foster Care in Portugal and Spain: A Comparative Research on the Satisfaction of Foster Carers

Este estudo apresenta uma comparacao entre as experiencias de familias de acolhimento de Portugal e Espanha, avaliando-se a sua satisfacao com a informacao recebida antes do acolhimento; a preparacao da crianca para o acolhimento; os apoios tecnico e financeiro; e a evolucao do processo de acolhimento. Pretende-se contribuir para melhorar e promover a medida de acolhimento familiar nos dois paises. Os processos de acolhimento familiar dependem de fatores historicos e culturais que produzem diferencas importantes nos diversos contextos internacionais. Assim, foram realizadas entrevistas em duas amostras aleatorias constituidas por 52 familias de acolhimento em Portugal e 46 na Espanha, cujos resultados foram comparados atraves de testes estatisticos parametricos e nao parametricos. Os acolhedores, em ambos os paises, mostraram um elevado grau de satisfacao com o processo de acolhimento. No entanto, em Portugal, existe maior preocupacao com o fraco apoio financeiro, as informacoes nao fornecidas pelos servicos de acolhimento ou a ma preparacao da crianca para o acolhimento. Por fim, sao apresentadas sugestoes para a melhoria da gestao e implementacao desta resposta social.This study provides a comparison of satisfaction of the carers with foster care in Portugal and Spain, aiming to improve implementation and development of this social response. The foster care processes depend on historical and cultural factors that have significant differences in various international contexts. Although comparative studies enable the sharing of experiences and the transfer of good practices, often we find barriers to conduct such studies due to limited access to data about protection practices of children. The sample includes 52 foster families in Portugal and 46 in Spain, who were interviewed to know their experiences with regard to satisfaction with: the information received before the host; the preparation of the child for the foster care; the technical and financial support; and the evolution of the foster care process. The carers, in both countries, show a high degree of satisfaction with the foster care process. However, in Portugal, there is greater concern for the poor financial support, information not provided by the foster care services or poor preparation of the child for childcare. Finally suggestions for improving the management and implementation of this social response are presented.