CHALLENGES OF FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Djeca koja se nalaze u javnoj skrbi dolaze u nju s različitim prethodnim životnim iskustvima, povijesti njihove biološke obitelji, razlozima izdvajanja i slično što ih čini ranjivima u pitanjima mentalnog zdravlja. Prepoznavanje upravo tih emocionalnih poteškoća i poremećaja u ponašanju kod djece i mladih koji se nalaze u javnoj skrbi sve više privlači interes znanstvene i stručne javnosti, a time i intenzivira napore u pronalaženju kvalitetnijih metoda u odgovaranju na potrebe djece u riziku. Istraživanja pokazuju da je udomiteljstvo za većinu djece, koja nisu u mogućnosti živjeti sa svojom obitelji, najbolji oblik skrbi jer djeci u većini slučajeva može pružiti iskustvo stabilnog obiteljskog života i života u zajednici te jačati njihovu socijalnu kompetenciju. Svrha ovoga rada je stoga identifi - cirati neke od emocionalnih i bihevioralnih poteškoća djece koja se nalaze u udomiteljstvu, te pružiti teorijski temelj za unapređenje prakse udomiteljstva djece u Republici Hrvatskoj s posebnim naglaskom na specijalizirano/tretmansko/terapeutsko udomiteljstvo djece s poremećajima u ponašanju odnosno emocionalnim i psihičkim, ali i fi zičkim poteškoćama.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