Analysis of the family and sociodemographic profile of kinship foster care in the City of Madrid

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Kinship Foster care is one of the most common child protection measures in Spain and, paradoxically, it has received little attention from scientific production in recent years. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse the family and sociodemographic profile of kinship foster care in the city of Madrid, where, in contrast with other Spanish cities, no descriptive research about this measure has been made there. METHOD. The method used is non experimental, descriptive and explicative to examine the main variables of family configuration. The sample analysed is the total population of kinship foster care in the city of Madrid: 702 children in 569 families and 821 caregivers. RESULTS. Results show that kinship foster care takes place at their second childhood and adolescence, it is mainly formalized with grandmothers, from the mother´s family, and in single parent homes with just only one child. Intergenerational difference between children and caregivers is relevant; the predominant kind is permanent administrative and under a protective measure of guardianship; and the main reason for withdrawal is foster children’s legal age. Moreover, when income and educational levels are higher, the number of kinship foster care is lower, and when the number of applications for social financial aids is higher, the number of kinship foster care is also higher. DISCUSSION. This child protection measure has unique characteristics linked to its family configurations that share aspects with similar studies, but shows distinctive elements that could increase vulnerability in childhood and adolescence. Therefore, a deep knowledge of them makes possible realistic and specialized socio-educational proposals.