Undertaking planned transitions for children in out-of-home care

Abstract

For many children in long-term out-of-home care, transition from one family to another forms one of their key experiences. These changes are often traumatic. In this article, we articulate some of the practices that may soften the painfulness of the experience of movement. One such practice is the development of a gradual transition process that avoids dramatic discontinuities for the child. Part of this process involves the child having ongoing contact with the family from which he or she has moved, with this contact decreasing gradually. Another aspect of a successful transition is the development of a constructive relationship between the two families involved. If this can be created, a child is more likely to be emotionally held in the process. This type of transition also requires oversight from a well-functioning professional team that can create a structured plan that holds and supports all those affected; the aim is to enable the child to have a manageable experience of a situation that is likely to evoke powerful feelings of abandonment, grief and loss.