Parental separation parental separation from children who enter the child welfare system

Abstract

This paper addresses the continuing importance of family of origin to the child in foster care. A brief review of relevant literature is reinforced by findings from a recent study, Looking After Children in Canada. The authors argue both for the continuing importance of family and for the value of consulting the children themselves, as does the Looking After Children approach. They suggest that family preservation does not necessarily depend on where one resides, but on a continuing set of relationships.