Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-9q27g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T18:51:53.119Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The long term care of children with disabilities: Is family the only way?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Kevin Bain
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Some families need to place their disabled child in long term out of home care, due to a high care burden. Foster family care is increasingly the only option available. While published research is sparse, there is evidence that rostered staff models of care are more appropriate for some children, and the potential gains from family care are overstated. Questions are raised about foster care successes overseas and locally, particularly as care options are restricted to in home support or alternative family models. Rostered staff models can promote a child’s involvement with the birth family, and should be developed further. Planners need to foster diversity, which allows flexibility and promises new knowledge.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , 1998 , pp. 9 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ainsworth, F. 1997, ‘Foster care research in the US and Australia: An update’, Children Australia, Vol 22, No 2.Google Scholar
Association for Children with a Disability 1995, Draft Response to H&CS Draft Policy Framework for Disability Services, Child Adolescent And Family Services.Google Scholar
Australian Institute for Health and Welfare 1997, Australia’s Welfare 1997: Services and Assistance, AGPS.Google Scholar
Baxter, C., Cummins, R.A., Volard, J. & da Costa, C. 1992, ‘Shared family care: Policy implementation during the initial stage of service development’, Australian Disability Review, 2–92.Google Scholar
Blacher, J. & Baker, B.L. 1994, ‘Family involvement in residential treatment of children with retardation: Is there evidence of detachment?’, J. Child Psychol. Psychiat., Vol 35, No 3.Google Scholar
Blacher, J. 1994, Placement and its consequences for families with children who have mental retardation, in Blacher, J., (ed), When there’s noplace like home: Options for children living apart from their natural families, Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore.Google Scholar
Borthwick Duffy, S.A., Widowman, K.F., Littlemore, T.D. & Eymack, R. 1992, Foster family care for persons with mental retardation, AAMR.Google Scholar
CSV Permanent Care Team 1989, ‘Permanent care: current issues, research trends and future directions’, Child Protection Conference Proceedings, November.Google Scholar
Cant, R. & Hand, M. 1994, ‘Who cares for these children? An historical analysis of recent documents on provision for those with developmental disabilities’, Children Australia, Vol 19, No 3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cox, E. 1987, ‘Rediscovering the family: A popular political pasttime’, ASW Impact, March.Google Scholar
Department of Health and Community Services (Vic.) 1994, Respite Review.Google Scholar
Department of Human Services (Vic.) 1996, ‘Much love for Sarah from two families’, Progress Press, 25 June.Google Scholar
Department of Human Services (Vic.) 1997 Family options policies and procedures manual: interim guidelines, October.Google Scholar
Elliot, B. & Young, M. 1991, Melanie’s Program Evaluation Final Report, unpublished, November.Google Scholar
FOI (Vic.) documents, September 1997 Google Scholar
Goddard, C. & Carew, R. 1993, Responding to children: child welfare practice, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Kelly, F., Clark, J., McEntee, P. & Dench, S. 1995, Factors contributing to the relinquishment of children with intellectual disability, IDSC, South Australia.Google Scholar
Letter to The Age, 21/2/98 p 12 Google Scholar
Llewellyn, G., Dunn, P., Forte, M., Turnbull, L. & Grace, R. 1996, Families with young children with disabilities and high support needs, University of Sydney Family Support and Services Project.Google Scholar
Macaskill, C. 1988, ‘It’s a bonus’: families’ experiences of adopting children with disabilities’, Adoption and Fostering, Vol 12, No 2.Google Scholar
Mason, J. 1996, ‘Privatisation and substitute care’, Children Australia, Vol 21, No 1.Google Scholar
MORC 1987, Recruitment of foster homes: an instructional manual of foster home recruitment techniques, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center.Google Scholar
National Institutes of Health 1990, ‘Consensus development conference statement, treatment of destructive behaviours in persons with developmental disabilities’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol 20, No 3.Google Scholar
Provencale, G. 1988, Characteristics of a successful community living program and support service, Yungaburra Foundation, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Russell, S. 1992, ‘Implications for child welfare practice,’ Children Australia, Vol 17, No 1.Google Scholar
Schopler, E. & Van Bourgondien, M.E. 1990, Special Issue on Residential Services, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol 20, No 3.Google Scholar
Scott, D. 1993 ‘Issues in transplanting programs from the US, Children Australia, Vol 18, No 2.Google Scholar
Shoultz, B., O’Connor, S., Hulgin, K. & Newman, P. 1994, Permanency planning in Michigan: From philosophy to reality, Center On Human Policy, Syracuse University, New York.Google Scholar
Steering Commitee for the Review of Commonwealth State Service Provision, 1998, Report On Government Services, Vol. 2, AGPS.Google Scholar
Van Bourgondien, M. & Schopler, E. 1990, Critical issues in the residential care of people with autism, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol 20, No 3.Google Scholar
Whittaker, J.K. & Pfeiffer, S. 1994, ‘Research priorities for residential group care’, Child Welfare, Vol 73, No 5, Sept-Oct.Google Scholar