Abstract
The paper presents results of the GAUK project. Aim of the project was to identify structural processes and adaptability in families, which occur after an adolescent is placed in a foster care.
Within this framework we focused on cases where older school-age children have successfully integrated themselves into a family system. We can stipulate three research domains: What are the mechanisms that foster parents consider ensuring for the functionality of a family? How do foster parents see the process of forming a relationship with a new teenager who has been placed into their family? How does the child subjectively see his/her placement in a foster family? The target group was made up of members of families that have shown long-term indicators of functionality - parents who have been identified as prospective foster parents and who have had at least one adopted child who has reached the legal age, in family there must be at least one child who was adopted before his/her first birthday.
After pre-study a fundamental research was conducted (in 2009 and 2010). The research method was a semi-structured interview with the foster parents.
Qualitative methods of research were used in order to formulate research findings. The success the placement of a teenager in foster care depends on the mechanisms with which the foster family is equipped but also on the neighbourhood interventions.
Personal involvement of foster parents is important, as well as their ability to solve problems, personal experience with child care, whether it concerns their own children or adopted, willingness to learn, adapt and take care of the child. Also, intervention of non-profit organizations seems to be well accepted and cooperation between individual institutions of foster care is necessary.
Support groups have also their merits. There is also a need for a sophisticated multidisciplinary concept of professional foster care and then host and subsequently parallel concept of foster care.