The Nature of Foster Care International Trends

Abstract

The nature of foster care is changing around the world. Based on their forthcoming book on the same theme, Matthew Colton and Margaret Williams review developments in the purpose, definition and practice of foster care in countries as different as Argentina, Hungary, Finland, Italy, Zimbabwe and the UK. With respect to purpose, they argue that the growing emphasis on family support, reunification, and normalisation has implications for the way that foster care might be defined. With regard to practice, they point to a trend towards diversification of foster care programmes so that increasing numbers of children with different and more challenging needs can all be served. The authors conclude by suggesting a new definition of foster care, aimed at encompassing the breadth and diversity of service needed to accommodate the changing needs of children everywhere.