Impacts of Socio-­Psychological Support Practices on the Stability of Foster Families

Abstract

The article presents a methodological approach to conducting an evidence-­based evaluation of the impact of accompaniment practice on foster family sustainability. The authors describe the evaluation design of the practice, as well as the monitoring and evaluation methods used and their place in the hierarchy of scientific knowledge methods. The methodology presented is based on the basic principles of evidence-­based analysis: reliance on scientific knowledge, research, professional expertise and the opinion of beneficiaries, including children. To assess impact, the authors used a sequential mixed research design (survey method, expert assessment based on behavioral markers, case analysis, and storytelling interviews with subsequent verification of findings by informants). This design is based on the principle of data triangulation: collecting data from multiple stakeholder groups; using multiple methods and approaches to measure social outcomes. A particular feature of the evaluation is the involvement of foster children, who are part of the family system and the main beneficiaries of the practice. This approach allows for the development of practices that involve children in decisions that are important to them. The data obtained through the described methodology show that the practice of supporting substitute families is an optimal technology that increases family stability and reduces the risk of a foster child returning to the institution.