Fostering and Secure Care: An Evaluation of CAPS. Interchange.

Autor/inn/en	Walker, Moira; Hill, Malcolm; Triseliotis, John
Institution	Scottish Executive Education Dept., Edinburgh.
Titel	Fostering and Secure Care: An Evaluation of CAPS. Interchange.
Quelle	(2002), (13 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISSN	0969-613X
Schlagwörter	Adolescents; At Risk Persons; Foreign Countries; Foster Care; Foster Children; Objectives; Program Descriptions; Program Evaluation; United Kingdom (Scotland) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Adolescent; Adolescence; Adoleszenz; Jugend; Jugendalter; Jugendlicher; Risikogruppe; Ausland; Pflegehilfe; Foster child; Pflegekind; Goal definition; Zielsetzung; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation
Abstract	In 1997, the Community Alternative Placement Scheme (CAPS) was organized by NCH Action for Children (Scotland) to provide family placements for youth who would otherwise enter or remain in secure care. This evaluation study assessed the extent to which CAPS met its goals during the first 3 years of operation and examined the program's impact on the youth placed. Core elements of CAPS included foster care provider payment equivalent to a reasonable salary, intensive support to carers, specialist training, time-limited placement, automatic entitlement to respite care, individualized programs, and educational support. The study followed 20 CAPS youth and a comparison sample of youth in secure care for 2 years after placement started. Data were gathered from case records and interviews with youth, foster carers, CAPS staff, local authority social workers, and managers. Findings revealed that in less than 3 years, CAPS became well established as a key fostering service, attracting people who would not otherwise have considered becoming foster carers. The placement length was revised from the initial 6 months to 6 to 12 months. Over time, the relationship between the carers and the project staff became clarified. CAPS demonstrated the feasibility of this foster care scheme in Scotland. Most of the placements did not end in accordance with planned duration or goals but others provided stable, positive experiences on an enduring basis. In nearly all CAPS placements youth, carers, and social workers thought youth had benefited, but progress measures and outcomes produced mixed results. Improving access to additional educational support and psychological services emerged as a key requirement in extending foster care's potential to provide family-based care for youth with significant difficulties. (Contains 11 references.) (KB)
Anmerkungen	SEED Research Unit., Scottish Executive Education Department, Room 1B Dockside, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, Scotland. For full text: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/edru.
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC