Monitoring of Norwegian Foster Homes

Bibliographic Data

ID5936793
AuthorsEsben S B Olesen, Esben Olesen (0000-0002-6359-5182, Nord University, corresponding author), Lea Louise Videt (Nordland Research Institute)
Year2024
Volume13
Issue1
Pages65
Publication date2024-01-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/socsci13010065
OpenAlexW4390971897
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited8

Based on interviews, this article explores how the monitoring of foster homes is experienced by children and youths who have been exposed to what they consider abusive behaviour by foster parents. Using a thematic narrative theoretical framework, the article shows that a common narrative in the youths' accounts is a story of mistrust towards social workers and monitoring officers, which relates to a general mistrust towards the child welfare service. The young individuals are reluctant to tell monitoring officers about how they truly experience their situation in their foster home. At the same time, some of the youths have difficulty comprehending what normal parenting behaviour is like, due to previous experiences of neglect from adults. The article discusses how successful monitoring of foster homes largely stands or falls on the children's and youths' ability to disclose their experiences to their supervisors and monitoring officers. We argue that the youths' narratives tell a story of disempowerment. This represents a dilemma in the monitoring of Norwegian foster homes and in the children's right to protection

Developmental psychology · Dilemma · Foster care · Foster parents · Narrative · Neglect · Norwegian · Political science · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Welfare and Adoption · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work

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Open DOIOpen Access