Research

The research therefore investigates and answers the question:

How can the interests of religious diverse foster children in religiously non-matched placements best be safeguarded in order to stimulate their healthy psychosocial and religious identity development?

The research will combine qualitative research on the lived experiences of foster children, foster parents and where possible their parents, with ethical reflection on the dilemmas in relation to religion that become visible in the interviews. Informed by these insights, we will be able to report on the impact of religious differences and conflicts for the religious and psychosocial development of foster children. In addition, we will also offer practical guidance for foster parents and foster care professionals on religious dilemmas can be best addressed as to promote foster children’s healthy psychosocial development.

Information for Youth

Many foster families are religious, and increasingly foster parents have a different religion than the youth and their parents. We are interested in what this means to youth in the foster care system, as well as to foster parents and parents. We therefore conduct interviews with them. As researchers and foster care professionals we want to learn from this.

This research project currently focuses on parents and children that live in the Netherlands and speak the Dutch language. We refer parents and children to the Dutch website. Professionals and researchers from other countries can find more information on this page.

Information for Parents

Information for Foster Care Professionals

As a foster care professional, you are concerned with offering guidance and support to foster families, to ensure the safety, healthy development and wellbeing of foster children. In this you are concerned with how foster children adapt to their foster families. We have learned that when religion is a challenge in this, it is hardly ever the only or main challenge. Yet, we also observe that many foster care professionals can come up with examples in which religion is associated with certain challenges in foster families. We are interested in your experiences and professional perspective on this.

Information for Researchers

The research project combines empirical research into the lived experiences with religious differences in the context of foster care, with reflection on the ethical dilemmas that emerge in practice. We explore these dilemmas against the background of ethics related to children’s rights to rights associated religion and religious and cultural minorities.

Last modified:

26 May 2021 3.20 p.m.

View this page in: Nederlands