“How to look beyond what you see”: finnish foster parents’ experiences of intercultural placements in child welfare.
Kainiemi, Nelli (2023)
2023
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303123407
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303123407
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this thesis was to describe Finnish foster parents’ experiences of intercultural placements in child welfare. Research questions considered foster parents’ experiences and developmental needs they recognised in their support and training before and during the intercultural placement. Thesis provides experience-based knowledge and multiple viewpoints towards the phenomenon scarcely researched in Finland. This benefits all actors connected to foster care and family placements in communal and private sectors and non-governmental organisations.
The thesis is based on qualitative research. The data was collected with an anonymous online survey (n=25) and three semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis produced themes related to the child’s perspective, foster parents’ personal growth experiences and the extra work intercultural placements require from foster parents.
Intercultural placements require extra work from a foster parent, compared to fostering general population children. Foster parents’ reactions towards this extra varied. Some foster parents consider cultural specifics as “extra”, an addition to everyday life. Another group seemed to have adopted an idea of mutual learning and gaining understanding through interest towards the new culture. Foster parents acknowledge the need for sufficient and timely support for themselves, the child and the biological parents. They also experience their training not containing enough information about the realities of intercultural placements.
Further research is encouraged considering, for example, children in intercultural placements and good practices among social workers ensuring the cultural, linguistic, and religious rights of children in foster family care.
The thesis is based on qualitative research. The data was collected with an anonymous online survey (n=25) and three semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis produced themes related to the child’s perspective, foster parents’ personal growth experiences and the extra work intercultural placements require from foster parents.
Intercultural placements require extra work from a foster parent, compared to fostering general population children. Foster parents’ reactions towards this extra varied. Some foster parents consider cultural specifics as “extra”, an addition to everyday life. Another group seemed to have adopted an idea of mutual learning and gaining understanding through interest towards the new culture. Foster parents acknowledge the need for sufficient and timely support for themselves, the child and the biological parents. They also experience their training not containing enough information about the realities of intercultural placements.
Further research is encouraged considering, for example, children in intercultural placements and good practices among social workers ensuring the cultural, linguistic, and religious rights of children in foster family care.