To reach future foster families : A qualitative study that shows how Familjehemscentrum can recruit future foster families

The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to examine the different ways thatFamiljehemscentrum use to increase the number of families that show interest in takingcare of foster children. This thesis will examine which families are targeted by Familjehemscentrums present communication, which families they should target in thefuture and also the best way to do that. In order to answer these questions a number of interviews were conducted. The first interview was a group interview with three social workers that all work at Familjehemscentrum. Three more individual interviews were conducted with representatives from foster families to investigate how they were recruitedand what they think about being a foster family. The study is based upon relationship management and different communication models identified in the Excellence-study. The results of the interviews showed that Familjehemscentrums communication is directed at heterosexual, non-religious, Swedish born families that live outside of the city. If they widen their target group to include homosexual, religious and non-Swedish born families they would have more families to pick from when deciding who should take care of a foster child. The social workers explained that they would like to see more young families become foster families. The conclusion of this thesis is that Familjehemscentrum can target these young families, along with other types of families, by using social media in a greater extent and also by using the present foster families as a type of ambassadors