Advantages and disadvantages of kinship foster care – Perspectives from child welfare workers in Norway

This study explores the advantages and disadvantages of kinship foster care from the perspectives of child welfare workers. Since the introduction of the Foster Care Regulation in 2004, Child Welfare Services in Norway have been required to prioritise family and close networks as foster placements for children in care. The increased use of kinship foster care has provided child welfare workers with more experience and knowledge, offering an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their insights. Data from a national survey exploring their perspectives produced a total of 858 open-ended responses regarding their views . The data were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis, generating six themes: advantages included continuity, stability, and biological bonds, while role conflict, (dis)loyalty, and lower quality were identified as disadvantages. Overall, the results showed that child welfare workers see kinship foster care as beneficial for the child, but less positively for the foster parents and the child welfare services. The discussion emphasises the ongoing dilemmas faced by child welfare workers as they navigate this complex and often contradictory landscape.