Objective: To identify situations and behaviors
occurring during contact visits that are likely to
have an impact on a foster child’s well-being.
Background: It has been argued that contact
visits between foster children and birth parents
can help to maintain attachment bonds and sup port the child’s development. However, contact
continues to be a subject of controversy, and
evidence of both benefits and drawbacks has
been reported in the literature. Few studies have
examined what actually occurs during such vis its, how parents and children interact, and what
role is played by those involved.
Method: We conducted an in-depth qualitative
observational analysis of the behavior of partic ipants in contact visits (birth parent, child, and
social worker), as well as of the characteristics
of the venue. Participants were 20 children in
nonkinship foster care and their birth parents.
Information regarding the characteristics of vis its was provided by the child protection services
and the fostering agencies involved.
Results: The analysis revealed a large num ber of positive behaviors among parents, chil dren, and social workers, but also the need
for improvement in several areas (e.g., family
relationships, social/communication skills, and
presents). Conclusions: This study highlights the need
to improve contact visits by developing inter vention strategies targeting all those involved.
Notably, the support and supervision provided
by social workers was not always adequate.
Implications: The results of this study could be
used to develop an instrument for assessing the
quality of contact visits and identifying aspects
that need to be improved.
