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The importance of parents in the lives of children in the care system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Jane Thomson  and
Ros Thorpe
Jane Thomson
Affiliation:
School of Social Work and Community Welfare, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811. Email: Jane.Thomson@jcu.edu.au
Ros Thorpe
Affiliation:
School of Social Work and Community Welfare, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811. Email: Rosamund.Thorpe@jcu.edu.au
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Abstract

Research to date has found that natural parents may be an important source of identity and support for children in and young people leaving out-of-home care. There has, however, been limited research on natural parents themselves, both internationally and in Australia.

This paper provides a justification for a research focus on parents, documents what is known from research to date, highlights current issues for parents and their children in out-of-home care, and concludes by identifying future research priorities in the area. The paper calls for recognition of the need to maintain positive links between natural family members in order to ensure best practice outcomes for children and young people in care.

Type
Section One: Practice
Information
Children Australia , Volume 28 , Special Issue 2: Special Issue: Out-of-home care: Building a national research agenda , 2003 , pp. 25 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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