Assisted Custody and its Role in Substitute Family Care

Abstract Keywords: Children, Parent, Foster Parents, Assisted Custody, Foster Family Care The present thesis aims are to find out what opinions and attitudes have foster parents to an assisted contact. Whether they are informed of the possibility of mediation, or how many children in foster care with their biological parent encounters. it should be examined how foster parents learnd about the possibility of assiseted contact and if the service is currently used, or whether it will be used by foster parents in the future. In this work we were determined by one question which is in the line with the target of the work. The question is: Are the foster parents having a child in foster care afraid of the loss of the child in relation to assisted contact? From a methodological point of view was applied qualitative research. Technology for field data collection was elected a semi-structured interview. The results were evaluated by cluster method. The results achieved in many parts coincide with literature, but new facts were also found. The research showed 7 clusters, which proved to be more common in the testimonies of the communication partners. The research was carried out thanks to probe into the lives of foster families, including the most intimate details of their life together. It was found that most foster parents do not distinguish foster care as a temporary treatment, but the child is perceived almost as an adopted child. It is difficult for them to think about the loss of a child or to meet a child with a biological parent. The outputs of the thesis can be used as a basis for further studies and research in this area. They can also be used as a teaching or supporting material in the subjects of social studies