Inside the foster family What research tells us about the experience of foster carers' children

Although foster care is the main source of out-of-home care for children and young people, little is known about the dynamics of the foster family. This article by Robert Twigg and Tracy Swan focuses on one subsystem of the foster family system, the foster parents' own children. Fourteen research studies (nine published, five unpublished) were reviewed. These involved approximately 232 respondents, ranging in age from seven to 32 when interviewed, nearly equal numbers of males and females. Findings include benefits of fostering, impact of fostering on foster carers' children, responses to loss of role and parental attention, and the impact of the child welfare or foster care system. The authors conclude with several recommendations designed to make fostering a more positive experience.