The View from Down Here: Foster Children's Stories

Keywords

foster care, story, perceptions, foster children

Abstract

Foster children have stories and the whole foster care system, including the child, need to hear them. The story metaphor is useful in understanding how foster children perceive and process their world. Stories can help foster children better understand themselves, and help case managers, therapists, foster parents, teachers and policy makers hear these children in order to better attend to their needs. These children desire to have a greater part in the decisions that affect their lives, and hearing from them is important in honoring the unique and powerful story each child experiences. A framework for understanding and using stories is offered and relevant studies are reviewed and research suggestions are made.

Original Publication Citation

Whiting, J. B. (2000). The view from down here: Foster children’s stories. Child & Youth Care Forum, 29. 79-95

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2000-4

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5062

Publisher

Child and Youth Care Forum

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS