When children are removed from their parents’ care, the adults often become involved in processes that are highly attentive to the past and future care of the child. While the present physical and educational needs are attended to in the new placement, there are often dilemmas about how to help the child adjust psychologically to their new situation. In particular, children often struggle with why they have been admitted to care and what the future holds for them. The authors discuss the challenges of communicating with children about these issues and then outline the model they have found to be helpful.
AlperJ (2002) Billy Says, Bedfordshire: Fosterplus.
2.
BlausteinMEKinniburghKM (2012) Treating Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents: How to foster resilience through attachment, self-regulation and competency, New York: Guilford Press.
3.
BrodzinskyDM (2011) Children’s understanding of adoption: developmental and clinical implications. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice42(2): 200–207.
4.
FoxtonJ (2001–2007) Nutmeg Gets Adopted; Nutmeg Gets Cross; Nutmeg Gets a Letter; Nutmeg Gets a Little Help; Nutmeg Gets into Trouble; Nutmeg Gets a Little Sister, London: BAAF.
5.
GilmanJ (2009) Murphy’s Three Homes: A story for children in foster care, Washington, DC: Magination Press.
6.
GoldingKS (2012) Creating Loving Attachments: Parenting with PACE to nurture confidence and security in the troubled child, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
7.
HardyKVLaszloffyTA (2007) Teens Who Hurt: Clinical interventions to break the cycle of adolescent violence, London: Guilford Press.
8.
Hiles M, Essex S, Fox A and Luger C (2008) The ‘words and pictures’ storyboard: making sense for children and families. Context, June: 10–16.
9.
HoffmanKMarvinRCooperGPowellB (2006) Changing toddlers’ and preschoolers’ attachment classifications: the Circle of Security Intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology74(6): 1017–1026.
10.
HughesD (2012) Parenting a Child with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, London: BAAF.
11.
MelvilleL (2005) Working with Children and Families, Vol.2: A training manual, Manchester: The Family Protection Project/The British Council.
12.
MooreJ (2012) Once Upon a Time…Stories and drama to use in direct work with adopted and fostered children, London: BAAF.
13.
MunroE (2011) The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report. A child centred system, London: Department for Education.
14.
PerryB (1995) Principles of Clinical Work with Traumatised Children: Special considerations for parents, caretakers and teachers, Houston, TX: Baylor College of MedicineAvailable at: http://trauma-pages.com/s/perrykid.php.
15.
ReesJ (2009) Life Story Books for Adopted Children: A family friendly approach, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
16.
SambrooksP (2009) Dennis Duckling, London: BAAF.
17.
SambrooksP (2011) Dennis and the Big Decisions, London: BAAF.
18.
Sambrooks P (2015) Dennis Lives with Grandma and Grandpa. London: CoramBAAF.
