Family Foster Care: Motivation and Performance: An In-depth Look at the "Beijing Model"

Author: Wu Lüping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This book conducts a systematic theoretical exploration of a new model of raising orphaned and disabled children that emerged in the transformation of China's social welfare system, known as the "family foster care" model. Based on a thorough review of hand (field investigation data), it employs various qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, including typological analysis, situational analysis, correspondence analysis, and Logistic regression analysis, to deeply examine the motivations for foster care, the experiences of foster families, their social support systems, and their adoption intentions. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of family foster care. The findings reveal that the participation of foster families in family foster care is a rational choice made under the condition of having "leisure time." They are "rational actors of love" or "loving rational actors." Family foster care largely embodies the "child-centered" concept of care for orphaned and disabled children, and the children in foster care receive good care, showing significant progress in physical, psychological, and social development. From the perspectives of policy implementation, performance, and needs assessment, the policy is implemented well, with notable achievements that meet the needs of the state, foster families, and the children in foster care. However, there are also seven major issues that require high attention. Finally, nine countermeasures are proposed to address the aforementioned issues.