There is a general, but unproven, belief that long-term foster care is inherently unstable and consistently damaging. This paper discusses eight biological, psychological and social factors that the literature considers responsible for the failures of long-term fostering. It then summarizes the clinical picture presented by such failures, pointing out how changes in the nature of children coming into care have necessitated shifts in the type of foster care required to meet their needs. The major part of the paper uses this knowledge to derive seven keys and associated practical strategies for preventing psychological and social deterioration for children in care.
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