Abstract
This paper has attempted to focus attention on a group of young children in institutional placement who, because of the absence of opportunity for parental relationships within their own families, have need for identification with parental figures in their new environment. Such children present problems of immature ego development or neurotic conflict or a combination of both. The focus has been upon the strengthening of the immature ego, although our casework experience in this area may have application to the problem area in which neurotic conflict is predominant. We have tried to define and describe the element of parental identification in the casework process with this particular group of children and to show its interconnection with the broader transference phenomenon. Finally, the role of the caseworker in meeting the child's need for parental identification has been presented, as differentiated from that of the cottage parent and other resident staff members.
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