Project description
Title: Social Services and Service Users in Family Foster Care Planning: Co-Designing and Co-Evaluating Long-Term Placement
Start/end of the project: September 2025 – September 2028
Background for the project: This research is under the COCOSO research network, funded by the European Union under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. COCOSO aims to enhance the participation of both social service users and providers to co-construct policies and practices in the field of social welfare.
Aim/research question: This research project aims to co-design questionnaires, co-evaluate long-term placements, leading to co-constructive improved practices. The initial research questions are 1) how are stakeholders involved, and what are their roles and responsibilities in the design and implementation of long-term foster care placements, 2) what outcome indicators are prioritized by each stakeholder in evaluating long-term foster care placements, and 3) how do stakeholders perceive needed improvements to enhance participatory and effective foster care practices.
Method: The research will take place at the Scientific Association for the Care of Children and Adolescents (SYMEPE), an NGO in Greece that supports children, families, and professionals involved in children’s care. The research participants will include social workers, representing service providers, and several categories of service users: birth parents, foster parents, and children or adolescents with experience in foster care. The research methodology will be qualitative. Data will be collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews. Considering the characteristics of this study, all participants experience the process of foster care in Greece at different levels of involvement in care. The development of theory from the collected data might help explain practice and provide recommendations for improved practice at SYMEPE. For these reasons, the Grounded Theory is perceived as the most suitable approach for this study at this stage.