Title: Teenagers in foster care: the critical role of carers and other adults
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Fostering teenagers is especially challenging and the shortage of carers willing to care for teenagers particularly acute. Specific challenges include offending, sexual exploitation and asylum seekers. Less is known about the specific parenting practices that prevent or address these problems with children in care. Some carers trained in parenting skills experience fewer adolescent placement disruptions. The recent Government policy 'Positive for Youth' acknowledges the additional support needed by carers. Those who intervene in other people's lives should be informed by the best possible evidence. The new Rees Centre for Research on Fostering and Education aims to improve outcomes for fostered young people through better use of research. Foster carers, care leavers, professionals, service providers and policy makers are consulted throughout the research process. The proposed seminar series aims to develop a new research network on fostering teenagers to ensure better use of current research, identify gaps and highlight key policy and practice challenges. Specifically, it aims to: *Influence policy and practice through highlighting current research evidence on parenting and fostering teenagers; *Develop a new international research agenda by bringing together researchers, policy makers & practitioners from different disciplines (social work/social policy, education, psychology, law) and countries; *Construct an innovative understanding of what parenting means by discussing explanations of the relationship between parenting and children's outcomes and how this relates to foster parenting in order to inform effective interventions; *Take a longer term view by looking at the outcomes for fostered young people later in life and how this relates to earlier and later parenting and fostering. Proposed seminar format Each seminar will be a full day at different locations, with Seminar 5 in Gothenburg. Speakers will include researchers, policy-makers and practitioners/service providers. Postgraduate students (4-6) from varied disciplines will present posters that will go on the web and receive feedback. 30-40 people will be invited to each seminar including researchers (varying career stages), postgraduates, policy makers, practitioners, foster carers, care leavers and research funders. The planning group will provide continuity across the series. Those with a * have agreed to contribute. Seminar 1: Core concepts for parenting and fostering teenagers in the future Oct/Nov 2013 Possible speakers: Dr John Coleman*, Prof Frances Gardner*, Prof Ann Phoenix, Prof Gillian Schofield, Prof Gunvor Andersson*, Robert Tapsfield, Edward Timpson MP. Seminar 2: Sex in adolescence: Balancing rights and risks Feb/March 2014 Possible speakers: Prof Jenny Pearce*, Sue Berelowitz*, Charlotta Löfgren-Mårtenson*, Ronny Tikkanen*, Maddy Coy*, Peter Davies*. Seminar 3: Future directions for effective interdisciplinary youth justice systems May/June 2014 Possible speakers: Prof Stephen Scott, Tim Bateman*, Prof John Pitts*, John Drew*, Prof Nina Biehal, Lisa Harker. Seminar 4: Effective support for displaced children: Moving forward Oct/Nov 2014 Possible speakers: Prof Ravi Kohli*, Patricia Hynes*, Jim Wade, Dr Elaine Chase, Charlotte Melander*, Lisa Nandy MP*, Syd Bolton*. Seminar 5: Innovative approaches to supporting transition to independence Feb/March 2015 in Gothenburg. Possible speakers: Prof Ingrid Höjer*, Prof Mike Stein, Prof Sonia Jackson, NCAS representative, Yvonne Sjöblom*, Jan Storo*. Seminar 6: An interdisciplinary approach to fostering teenagers in the future May/June 2015 Summarise outcomes and future implications. Planning team: Judy Sebba (Rees, Oxford), John Coleman (Oxford), Jenny Pearce (Bedfordshire), Nikki Luke (Rees, Oxford), Frances Gardner (Social Policy, Oxford), Ingrid Höjer (Gothenburg), John Simmonds (BAAF), Roger Morgan (Children's Rights Director) Sue Berelowitz (Dep. Children's Commissioner).


Research activity codes: 8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE
Health categories: DISPUTED AETIOLOGY AND OTHER