Assessing and Matching Foster Care Relationships: An Interactional Framework

Abstract

Eddy Street and Mike Davies explore ideas behind the current typical professional response to the placement of children in foster care and its breakdown. They discuss theories of family functioning in terms of their relevance to the assessment of the fostering relationship and outline a model of assessment based on the theory of Behavioural Exchange, which uses checklists for children and questionnaires for adults. Using clinical examples, they go on to explore particular behaviours found in looked after children in terms of this model and assessment process. The need for further research is emphasised.