Abstract
Presentation of GAUK project results by poster at the conference. The aim of the project was to identify structural processes and adaptability in families that occur after placement in foster or host care.
Within this framework we focus on cases where older school-age children have successfully been placed into a family system. We can stipulate three research domains: What are the mechanisms that foster parents consider ensure 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 - motivation, subjective benefit for the child and prospects?The target group of respondents was made up of members of families that have shown long-term indicators of functionality - parents who have been identified as prospective foster parents on the basis of an investigation and who have cared for at least one adopted child who has come of age.
This family must also still be caring for at least one older school-age child who was taken into the family before his/her first birthday. In 2008 there was a pilot study using a smaller sample of respondents.
In 2009 and 2010 was realised fundamental research. The research method was a semistructured interview with the foster parent.
Using qualitative methods of psychological research have been formulated research findings.