Keeping Siblings in Care Connected

Improving Relationship Stability via the Mockingbird Family Model

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11957166
AutoresHolly Mclaren (0000-0002-1959-8319, Flinders University, autor correspondente), Emi Patmisari (0000-0003-2108-8411, Flinders University), Michelle Jones (0000-0002-6694-4288, Flinders University), Kate Teekens (Life Without Barriers, Unley, South Australia, Australia), Hanne Brunes (Life Without Barriers, Unley, South Australia, Australia)
Ano2024
Volume77
Fascículo4
Páginas486-499
Data de publicação2024-05-09
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAustralian Social Work (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0312-407X • E-ISSN: 1447-0748
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0312407x.2024.2347618
OpenAlexW4396811549
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas31

Children and young people in Australian foster or kinship care are separated from their siblings for a range of reasons. These may include issues that are behavioural, sibling-related, the capacity of carers to host multiple children, or policies that enforce a one-child-per-bedroom rule. This study investigated strategies enhancing stability and meaningful connections among siblings within the Mockingbird Family, a social network model of foster and kinship caring. Case examples, network mapping, and visualisation of the Mockingbird Family networks are presented alongside results from thematic analysis of qualitative data. The findings suggest that the Mockingbird Family facilitates meaningful contact and sibling connections, even when coplacement was not possible. Sibling coplacement and contact provide crucial benefits such as emotional support, stability, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging, contributing to children’s and young people’s development, healing from trauma, and overall wellbeing

Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Child Welfare and Adoption · Medicine · Psychology