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Abstract(s)
O acolhimento familiar (AF) de crianças está fracamente representado no
sistema de proteção português. Não obstante ser considerada a resposta preferencial
para a colocação de crianças, dados mostram que, em 2015, das 8.600 crianças em
situação de acolhimento apenas 3.5% estavam em AF (CASA, 2016). A invisibilidade
do AF é uma realidade inclusivamente nos trabalhos da comunidade científica
portuguesa (cf. Delgado, 2007). Esta investigação contribui para uma maior visibilidade
ao AF, dando voz às famílias de acolhimento, intentando compreender nomeadamente
motivações, expectativas, necessidades e impactos pessoais e familiares. Algumas
questões de investigação consistem em: i.) Como e porquê se tornam famílias de
acolhimento? ii) Qual a experiência das famílias de acolhimento na aplicação da
medida? iii) Que contributos podem as famílias de acolhimento dar para a melhoria da
medida do acolhimento familiar?
Assente na abordagem qualitativa, o desenho empírico consistiu na realização de
entrevistas narrativas a famílias de acolhimento, entrevistas semiestruturadas a técnicos
das equipas de acompanhamento e análise de processos sociais. A amostragem teórica
atende ao critério de variação máxima, num total de 10 famílias enquadradas ao nível do
acompanhamento por, essencialmente, duas entidades (Centro Distrital de Segurança
Social e uma Fundação). A análise qualitativa dos dados adotou a orientação da
Grounded Theory, com vista à elaboração de uma teoria enraizada, conforme
preconizado por Charmaz (2006 e 2014).
A motivação destas famílias está enraizada nos valores do altruísmo, suportada
pelo afeto por crianças e pela sensibilidade à desproteção. Estes fatores, associados à
biografia pessoal e profissional, e ao contacto direto ou indireto com o acolhimento
residencial ou outros contextos de desproteção, produzem a predisposição para se
tornarem família de acolhimento. A resiliência familiar para acolher crianças com
vivências traumáticas e comportamentos desafiantes, a qualidade do acompanhamento
técnico, e a manutenção do contacto com a criança após a cessação, contribuem para renovar a disposição para ser família de acolhimento. A experiência é vivenciada com
desafios e recompensas. Para os participantes ser família de acolhimento constitui uma
experiência compensadora considerando o reconhecimento da criança, da família, da
comunidade e dos técnicos.
A experiência positiva das famílias de acolhimento deste estudo evidencia a
importância do alargamento e reforço do AF no sistema português, como resposta
privilegiada na colocação de crianças. A qualidade dos serviços e o desempenho dos
profissionais formam um elemento-chave para o sucesso do acolhimento. Esta pesquisa
é um contributo para as políticas de proteção, e para a prática profissional.
Foster care is an almost absent component of the child care system in Portugal. Despite to be a legal response to child maltreatment, foster care only corresponds to 3,5 % of children in out-of-home care (CASA Report, 2015), representing the residential care 85,1%. The invisibility of foster care is a characteristic also observed in the Portuguese scientific community (Delgado, 2007). The present research contributes to a deeper visibility of foster care in Portugal, aiming to give voice to these families and understand their experiences as foster families, that is, their motivations and expectations and the needs and impacts on personal and family dynamics. The research questions are: i.) Why and how they become foster families? ii) What is their experience as foster families? iii) what can we learn from the foster families’ experiences to improve the child care and protection system in Portugal and the social workers’ performance? The research adopted a qualitative approach and the research design included narrative interviews with foster families, focused interviews with professional teams responsible by the recruiting, training and accompanying of the families, and case files analyses. The sample was intentional, attending the criterion of maximum variation, covering 10 foster families (FF), with two different supervision organizations. The qualitative data analysis adopted a Ground Theory orientation in is constructivist stand and was inspired by Charmaz (2006 and 2014) works. Foster families’ motivation is rooted in altruistic values and supported by affection for children and sensitivity to child maltreatment. These factors, but also the family and professional biography and the personal or indirect contact with out-of-home responses produce a predisposition to become foster family. The family resilience to host children with traumatic experiences and disruptive behaviours, the quality of social services support, supervision, as well as the link with the fostered children after they leave the FF, contribute to the renewal of the disposition to continue to be foster family. The FF experience is traversed by challenges and rewards. For the interviewed families to be foster family is a rewarding experience considering the recognition of the children, of the community, family, kinship and social services. The positive experience of foster families covered by this piece of research constitutes evidence to support the positive benefits for the Portuguese child welfare system to enlarge foster care as a response to child protection. The quality of social services and the performance of social workers is a key element for a successful experience. This study is a contribute for the child welfare public policy and for professional intervention.
Foster care is an almost absent component of the child care system in Portugal. Despite to be a legal response to child maltreatment, foster care only corresponds to 3,5 % of children in out-of-home care (CASA Report, 2015), representing the residential care 85,1%. The invisibility of foster care is a characteristic also observed in the Portuguese scientific community (Delgado, 2007). The present research contributes to a deeper visibility of foster care in Portugal, aiming to give voice to these families and understand their experiences as foster families, that is, their motivations and expectations and the needs and impacts on personal and family dynamics. The research questions are: i.) Why and how they become foster families? ii) What is their experience as foster families? iii) what can we learn from the foster families’ experiences to improve the child care and protection system in Portugal and the social workers’ performance? The research adopted a qualitative approach and the research design included narrative interviews with foster families, focused interviews with professional teams responsible by the recruiting, training and accompanying of the families, and case files analyses. The sample was intentional, attending the criterion of maximum variation, covering 10 foster families (FF), with two different supervision organizations. The qualitative data analysis adopted a Ground Theory orientation in is constructivist stand and was inspired by Charmaz (2006 and 2014) works. Foster families’ motivation is rooted in altruistic values and supported by affection for children and sensitivity to child maltreatment. These factors, but also the family and professional biography and the personal or indirect contact with out-of-home responses produce a predisposition to become foster family. The family resilience to host children with traumatic experiences and disruptive behaviours, the quality of social services support, supervision, as well as the link with the fostered children after they leave the FF, contribute to the renewal of the disposition to continue to be foster family. The FF experience is traversed by challenges and rewards. For the interviewed families to be foster family is a rewarding experience considering the recognition of the children, of the community, family, kinship and social services. The positive experience of foster families covered by this piece of research constitutes evidence to support the positive benefits for the Portuguese child welfare system to enlarge foster care as a response to child protection. The quality of social services and the performance of social workers is a key element for a successful experience. This study is a contribute for the child welfare public policy and for professional intervention.
Description
Keywords
Famílias de acolhimento Acolhimento familiar de crianças Motivações Experiências Child welfare Foster families Social work Policy making Portugal