Foster Care Research Centre Groningen kick-off

When children are unable to live with their parents for a long or short period of time, family foster care is a good alternative. Family members, acquaintances or complete strangers take on the role of caretaker, with the aim to provide children with a safe and stable home in which they can develop and thrive. Foster families receive assistance from professionals to take care of these children. Scientific research on foster care is one of the key themes in the research program of the Centre for Special Needs Education and Youth Care at the University of Groningen. Since May 1^st this research has been united in a Research Centre.

The Foster Care Research Centre Groningen studies decision-making processes in the foster care system, experiences of children placed in a foster family, interventions for foster children and their carers, and short-/long-term outcomes of foster placement. We aim to inform foster carers, professionals, agencies and policy makers about what are best (‘evidence-based’ or ‘knowledge-based’) approaches to assisting this vulnerable group. More information about our research and publications can be found on our website. Also, you can subscribe to our news updates to keep informed about new developments within the Research Centre.