Family life experiences in foster care model: A qualitative research based on family systems theory

The aim of this study is to examine the changes in the family system in the context of family systems theory, family structure and interpersonal relations in the context of foster family experience. Focuses on family functionality in developing the foster family model. Subjects of this study which prepared in qualitative design. Research subjects were selected using Homogeneous Sampling Technique. In order to consider the family as a system, all members of the family system (except protected child, mother, father and biological child) were included in the research and the family as a whole was tried to be explained. In this respect, in-depth interviews were conducted with 5 different family systems. The results of the research were created in micro, mezzo and macro dimensions. The most important result of this research is that contrary to some studies in the literature, Turkish family structure is suitable for foster family practice. Both the positive feedback of the protected child as an overly prescriptive in the first time at home and the habits of the institution and the negative feedback they gave in contravention of the rules has especially disturbed the mothers in the system and the rules in the family have been stretched. Furthermore, when the protected child is included in the system, it is observed that the biological child feels a violation of her personal boundaries and that the protected child can be perceived as a "Child of the guest". In both the parent and sibling subsystem, individuals were more protective and tolerant with the experience of being a foster family. This attitude is related to the idea of compensating the protected child's past experiences and the child's perception of being "entrusted". It was determined that the relationships with the parental subsystem, peer subsystem, sibling subsystem and environmental systems changed positively. In the last analysis, it was stated that foster family brings happiness, joy, movement and fertility to the family atmosphere. Perceived social support has increased because of a more productive family atmosphere. It was seen that the family systems interviewed were open to change before becoming a foster family and functional families in order to restore the system balance and that they do not have serious adaptation problems after pairing with the protected child. This showed that family systems should be evaluated together with functionality elements when making family choices and especially families that are open to change and can easily shape their boundaries and rules will be more functional in the foster family model.