Sundered Families: The Effect of Loss of a Parent

Placement Moves of Foster Children as Perceived by Foster Parents Residing in Urban and Semi-Urban Communities

“…Other previous articles relevant to this study address the role of grief and loss within foster care, which are known consequences of placement change (Black, 1984;Edelstein, 1981;Kagan, 1980;Edelstein, Burge, & Waterman, 2001;McFadden, 1996). Although these articles are not research studies, they provide insight into expectations of foster parents' emotional reactions to placements ending and what services may help them to grieve.…”

“…Although these articles are not research studies, they provide insight into expectations of foster parents' emotional reactions to placements ending and what services may help them to grieve. For example, Black (1984) discussed how the relationship between foster parent and child is unique due to the potentially temporary nature of the relationship and how that nature may inhibit attachment and impact grief. This finding implies that the response to the loss of a placement may not be comparable to reactions to loss in other situations, thus necessitating research on the unique circumstance of loss within foster care.…”

Children ‘in Limbo’

“…How many of the children in our care are mistrustful, of low self-esteem, unsure of who they are? They have usually undergone major disruption, probably several times over, so have had multiple carers and environments to get used to, and are expecting to move elsewhere, giving rise to issues of attachment and loss (Black 1984;Bowlby 1980: 39-41;Tizard 1986), helplessness and hopelessness (Abramson et al 1986), and emotional sterility (Fraiberg 1968: 300). Definite information about a move is often a long time coming and, in the meantime, children cannot commit themselves fully to their current life circumstances.…”