VIEWS OF FOSTERCHILDREN ABOUT CONTACTS WITH PARENTS AND RELATIVES

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research on the views of children about contacts with their birth parents and relatives. The views of children are seen through their experience in contacts and the wishes of children that relate to future contacts. The results show that children in foster care have positive attitude to the contacts and that no child wants to terminate the contacts maintained with the parents and relatives. A number of children want a greater number of contacts, or to establish contact with persons with whom there is no actual contact. Also, most of the children had the opportunity to participate in the planning and realization of contacts and the children who participated recognize their participation as an important issue.

Keywords

• foster care
• children
• contacts
• parents
• relatives