Review article
CHALLENGES OF FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
Maja Laklija
orcid.org/0000-0002-2580-4983
; Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Children come into public care with a variety of previous life experiences, various histories of their biological families (background),
reasons for separation and etc., which make them vulnerable to mental health issues. Identifying the emotional problems and behavioral
disorders of children and young people who are in public care are increasingly engaging the interest of scientifi c and professional
public, and therefore intensify their efforts to fi nd better methods of responding to the needs of children at risk. Research shows that
foster care for most children deprived of parental care is the best form of care and that in most cases can provide children experience
of a stable family life, life in the community and strengthen their social competence. The main goal of this paper is therefore to identify
some of the emotional and behavioral problems of children who are in foster care, and to provide a theoretical basis for improving
foster care practice in the Republic of Croatia, with special emphasis on specialized/treatment/therapeutic foster care for children
with behavioral disorders or emotional, psychological and physical diffi culties.
Keywords
specialized foster care; children at risk; emotional difficulties; behavioral disorders
Hrčak ID:
45266
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2009.
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