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Auditório ESE
Dia 37 de Maio
2052
(Re)thinking Foster Care
Emerging Challenges and Systemic Responses
International Seminar
9/10 September 2026
Registration
Program
Location
Foster Care in the beginning of the 21st Century: Emerging Challenges and Systemic Responses
in a Changing World

As the first quarter of the 21st century draws to a close, it has become increasingly apparent that foster care systems are confronted with new and complex challenges that can no longer be effectively addressed through the frameworks developed in the previous century. While the recruitment of new foster families has long been a structural concern, this difficulty has deepened due to demographic shifts, evolving family structures, economic constraints, and an escalating housing crisis in many countries.

In parallel, foster care responds now to a broader array of social transformations, including a diversification of family structures, increased migration, growing cultural, religious and ethnic diversity, evolving understandings of gender and identity, and the imperative to ensure meaningful participation of children and all relevant stakeholders in care processes.

These pressing issues intersect with multiple dimensions of foster care practice and policy, namely: kinship care, family contact, the maintenance and regulation of relationships with birth families, therapeutic and specialized foster care provisions, transitions to independent living, and the broader constructs of well-being and life satisfaction for children and young people in care.

The Polytechnic University of Porto is pleased to invite you to join us in September 2026 for two days of critical reflection, interdisciplinary dialogue, and collaborative exploration of contemporary challenges in foster care research.

Call for papers

Submission Guidelines

Each participant is limited to three submissions in the Individual Oral Presentation category, either as first author or co-author. Symposium presentations do not count toward this limit.

Call for Papers
1st Call – January to April

SubmitContacts
‍Individual Oral Presentation
  • Maximum Word Count: 250 (excluding references). Include 3 to 5 keywords.
  • Submission and presentation languages: Portuguese, Spanish, or English.
    Formatting: APA 7th edition.
  • Blind Review: As the review process is blind, do not include any author information or curriculum vitae in the abstract submission. Author details are not disclosed at any stage of the review process.
Symposium
Symposia provide researchers with the opportunity to present studies on a specific topic, integrating a coherent set of papers.
The symposium coordinator must:
  • Submit the symposium abstract, describing the topic and its relevance to the conference framework, with a maximum of 250 words;
  • Be the sole person responsible for submitting the anonymized symposium. The attached file containing the abstracts (3 or 4) must be submitted without any reference to the authors’ names or affiliations;
  • Submit both the symposium abstract and the attachment simultaneously on the CMT3 platform.
Exemplo

Título

Apelido, Autor A.1*, Apelido,Autor B.2,3, Apelido, Autor C.1,…& Apelido, Autor Z 2

1Afiliação, Departamento, Universidade/Instituto, Cidade, País
‍2Afiliação, Departamento, Universidade/Instituto, Cidade, País
‍3Afiliação, Departamento, Universidade/Instituto, Cidade, País

* Autor correspondente: Autor A. Apelido, email

Introdução:
‍breve explicação sobre a relevância do tema, destacando o problema ou a lacuna que o estudo aborda.

Objetivo:
‍inserir o objetivo principal.

‍Métodos:
‍inserir a descrição dos métodos utilizados (i.e., materiais, amostra, análise de dados).

‍Resultados:
‍inserir uma descrição dos resultados mais relevantes.

‍Discussão/Conclusão:
‍insira uma descrição das principais conclusões obtidas.

‍Palavras-chave:
‍3 a 5 palavras-chave.

‍Referências (se aplicável):
Normas APA 7.ª versão

The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.
https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/IFCRN2026

Program

September 9

Este bloco de texto é opcional. Se preferir que seja ocultado, por favor indique.

Na tabela abaixo será introduzido o texto que submeter com o programa. Por favor indique devidamente qual o título, subtítulo e corpo de texto para cada entrada.

Abaixo apresentam-se exemplos do que poderá ser o programa.
Considere-se a primeira entrada como EXEMPLO. As seguintes têm texto representativo.


9.30h-10.15h
10.15h-11.00h
11.00h-11.30h
11.30h-12.45h
13.00h-14h30h
14.30h-16.00h
16.00h-16h30h
16.30h-18.00h
18.30h

Welcome  and introduction
Keynote  Speaker 1
Coffe - Break
Parallel  session 1
Break Lunch
Parallel  session 2
Coffe - Break
Symposium  session
Seminar  Dinner

09:30 - 10:15
Welcome  and introduction
Exemplo de Subtítulo
10:15 - 11:00
Jorge Fernández del Valle
Optimizing the social capital of family solidarity: various forms of collaboration
Room ????
11:00 - 11:30
CoffeE - Break
11:30 - 12:45
Parallel  session 1
Room 1
Kinship care: family networks, memory and lived experience
1
Kinship Foster Care: A Review of Challenges and the Development of a Professional Support Model
Shimrit Prins Engelsman
Ashkelon Academic College, Sapir Academic College, The Summit Institute - Foster Care Service
Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2
"You are Our Son, Through Thick and Thin”: Young Adults’ Insights into Their Experiences in Kinship Foster Care
Shimrit Prins Engelsman
Ashkelon Academic College, Sapir Academic College, The Summit Institute - Foster Care Service
Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
3
Mending the Fragments: Addressing Memory Gaps and Distorted Realities in Kinship Care
ofer malloul
orr-shalom
4
Enduring and Caring Together Through Hardship: Korea’s Grandparent-grandchild Kinship Care
Eunju Lee
University at Albany, SSW
Jin Joo Hong
Hannam University
Jeesoo Jung
University at Albany, SSW
Choong Rai Nho
Ewha Womans University
5
Exploring the lived experience of grandparent-grandchild kinship families: Latent Dirichlet Allocation approach
Eunju Lee
University at Albany, SSW
Choong Rai Nho
Ewha Womans University
Seon Woo Nam
Ewha Womans University
Room 2
Birth families, reunification and family contact
1
Partnering With Parent Advocates to Transform Foster Care
Marina Lalayants
Hunter College, Silberman School of Social Work
2
Reversed Social Mobility in Reunification from Foster Care: Socioeconomic Transitions and Systemic Responsibility
Tina Gerdts-Andresen
Oslo Metropolitan University Faculty of Social Sciences
Anna Carolina Carlström
Child Welfare Service, Municipality of Oslo
3
Parents’ Everyday Life After Child Removal: Implications for Foster Care Systems and Supportive Practice
Tina Gerdts-Andresen
Oslo Metropolitan University Faculty of Social Sciences
Heidi Aarum Hansen
Østfold University College
4
Reunification after Foster Care: An Intersubjective Perspective on Child–Parent Psychotherapy
Yuval Saar Heiman
Ben Gurion University of the Negev
5
“We have to understand that people crave connection”: Exploring family contact for youth in foster care and beyond
Linda-Jeanne Mack
University of Maryland
Lauren McCarthy
The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect
Room 3
Therapeutic, trauma-informed and specialised foster care
1
Challenged Frameworks of Care: Child Welfare Services’ Understanding of Care Needs for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Foster Care
Tina Gerdts-Andresen
Oslo Metropolitan University Faculty of Social Sciences
Anita Hegdahl-Galterudhøgda
University of South-Eastern Norway
Heidi Aarum Hansen
Østfold University College
2
Three Therapeutic Movements for Complex Trauma: Applying the Eden Model Across Residential and Foster Care Systems
Shira Kremer-Sharon
Eden Association
3
"You Realize That You Did Not Understand Just How Hard This Can Be":  The Support Needs and Challenges of Foster Parents of a Child with a Disability
Tehila Refaeli
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Adva Ahuda-Gamliel
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
4
From Triangle to Circle: A Holistic Approach to Working with Foster Children, their Parents and Foster Parents.
Dalit Binschtock
Orr-Shalom
5
Mechanisms of Change in a Trauma Informed Foster Care Intervention: Qualitative Findings from the Fostering Connections Implementation and Process Evaluation
India Thompson
Centre for Evidence and Implementation
Paola Castellanos
Centre for Evidence and Implementation
Room 4
Care leavers, extended care and life course transitions
1
Out-of-Home Care as a Developmental Turning Point: Voices of Care Leavers in Emerging Adulthood
Yafit Sulimani-Aidan
Tel Aviv University, Israel
2
Risks and Stressors among Care Leavers in Arab Society in Israel
Yafit Sulimani-Aidan
Tel Aviv University, Israel
Samah Mahamid
Tel Aviv University, Israel
Haneen Karam-Elias
Ruppin Academic Center
3
Institutionalization, Trauma, and Resilience: Preliminary Insights from Adults with Foster Care Histories and Implications for Social Work Practice
Diana Danau
University of Bucharest
4
Care Experienced Adults and their Relationship with their Foster Carers – A Life Course Perspective
Robbie Gilligan
Trinity College Dublin
Stephanie Holt
Trinity College Dublin
Janet Boddy
University of Sussex
Eavan Brady
Trinity College Dublin
Sarah Parker
Trinity College Dublin
5
Exploring Foster Carer Roles in Extended Care: Case Examples from a Biographical Study of Care Experienced Adults
Robbie Gilligan
Trinity College Dublin
Eavan Brady
Trinity College Dublin
Stephanie Holt
Trinity College Dublin
Janet Boddy
University of Sussex
Sarah Parker
Trinity College Dublin
Room 5
Legal reform, judicial reasoning and decision-making
1
Strengthening foster care within a reform of the Portuguese child protection system—stakeholders’ perspectives
Elisete Diogo
IPP
2
Evaluating Foster Care Reform in Portugal: A Data Collection Framework for Monitoring Implementation and Outcomes
Sandra Ornelas
ProChild CoLAB
Helena Grangeia
ProChild CoLAB & JusGov
Haneen Karam-Elias
Ruppin Academic Center
3
A look at judicial decision-making in child protection: Producing Care Boundaries and the persistence of residential care
Madalena Cid Teles
Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra (FEUC) and Centre for Social Studies (CES)
4
A relevância da oposição da criança ao acolhimento familiar na tomada de decisão judicial
Carla Ramos Monge
CEJ
5
Decision-making in Foster Care: Developing an evidence-informed decision approach
Helena Grangeia
ProChild CoLAB
Sandra Ornelas
ProChild CoLAB
Cláudia Ramos
ProChild CoLAB
Patrícia Bacelar
SCML
Cláudia Paulo
SCML
Room 6
Cross-cutting system issues: kinship, connection, evidence and reform
1
Exploring Child Welfare Workers’ Attitudes Towards Network and Family Kinship Care in Norway
Geraldine Mabille
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Renee Thornblad
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Sabine Kaiser
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
2
Coparenting and Factors Influencing the Use of Kinship Care: Social Workers’ Perspectives
Laura Holmi
University of Helsinki
3
Sleep Problems in Foster Children. A Systematic Review
Frank Van Holen
Pleegzorg Vlaams-Brabant en Brussel
Delphine West
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Matthias de Coster
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
4
Ethnocultural disparities in participation in higher education among care leavers from therapeutic youth villages and their matched peers: A quasi-experimental design
Netta Achdut
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
5
Entre a Norma e a Prática: Evolução Crítica do Acolhimento Familiar em Portugal (2015–2025)
Vania  Figueiredo
Casa Pia de Lisboa
Room 1
Kinship care: family networks, memory and lived experience
1
Kinship Foster Care: A Review of Challenges and the Development of a Professional Support Model
Shimrit Prins Engelsman
Ashkelon Academic College, Sapir Academic College, The Summit Institute - Foster Care Service
Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2
"You are Our Son, Through Thick and Thin”: Young Adults’ Insights into Their Experiences in Kinship Foster Care
Shimrit Prins Engelsman
Ashkelon Academic College, Sapir Academic College, The Summit Institute - Foster Care Service
Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
3
Mending the Fragments: Addressing Memory Gaps and Distorted Realities in Kinship Care
ofer malloul
orr-shalom
4
Enduring and Caring Together Through Hardship: Korea’s Grandparent-grandchild Kinship Care
Eunju Lee
University at Albany, SSW
Jin Joo Hong
Hannam University
Jeesoo Jung
University at Albany, SSW
Choong Rai Nho
Ewha Womans University
5
Exploring the lived experience of grandparent-grandchild kinship families: Latent Dirichlet Allocation approach
Eunju Lee
University at Albany, SSW
Choong Rai Nho
Ewha Womans University
Seon Woo Nam
Ewha Womans University)
13:00 - 14:30
Break Lunch
14:30 - 16:00
Parallel  session 2
Room 1
Recruitment, retention and foster carer sustainability
1
From Motivation to Retention: A Mixed-Methods Study of Foster Care in a Municipal Context
Jolanta Pivoriene
Mykolas Romeris university
Raminta Bardauskiene
Mykolas Romeris university
2
Supporting Foster Families: Empirical Insights from the “Fostering Changes” Programme in Germany
Judith Bürzle
Ulm University Medical Center
Sarah Degen
Ulm University Medical Center
Christian Bachmann
Ulm University Medical Center
3
Perceived Stigmatization of Foster Carers: A Qualitative Study
Ivana Borić
University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
Andreja Šprem
University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
Hana Rižovski Delogu
Center for Services in Community Izvor Selce
Andrea Ćosić
University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
4
(Re) thinking Foster Care-  What works in retaining Foster Carers
Catherine  Bond
CBC
5
Practices of Foster Carer Recruitment: A Systematic Review
Agnes Kulmar
Tallinn University
Ingrid Sindi
Tallinn University
Mariann Märtsin
Tallinn University
Room 2
Foster carers’ professional roles, support and placement practice
1
Exploring Supervisory Practices through a Trauma-Informed Lens to Enhance Psychological Support for Residential Childcare Workers
Isabelle Laguë
Université de Montréal
Steve Geoffrion
Université de Montréal
2
‘Professional’ Foster Families as an Answer to New Challenges? The Potentials and Risks of Care Hybrids
Maximilian Schäfer
Universität Osnabrück
3
Caring for the Stranger: changing relationships and the professionalisation of care in foster homes
Cecilie Elisabeth Basberg Neumann
Oslo Metropolitan University
Tonje Gundersen
NOVA - Oslo Metropolitan University
4
Emergency foster care in the Norwegian welfare state: Experiences with the framework for, and the execution of, the role as an Emergency Foster Home.
Ellen Strømsø
RKBU/NTNU
5
The Execution of Placement Support According to Flemish Foster Mothers
Matthias De Coster
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Camille Verheyden
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Frank Van Holen
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Room 3
Residential care, family life and bridging models
1
Belonging-focused Foster Care: A Transformative Approach for Looked-after Practice?
Andrew Turnell
Turnell Plus
2
Bridging Residential Care and Family Life: Adjustment and relational outcomes in Collaborating Families Programme
Lucía González Pasarín
Universidad de Málaga
Evelyn Montes Aguilar
Universidad de Málaga
Ana Y. Osorio Zambrano
Universidad de Málaga
Isabel M. Bernedo
Universidad de Málaga
Laura Belmonte
Universidad de Sevilla
Esperanza León
Universidad de Sevilla
3
Personal and academic development of adolescents in residential care with collaborating families
Laura Belmonte
University of Seville
Paula Martinez Jiménez
University of Seville
Lucía González-Pasarín
University of Malaga
Nuria Molano
University of Seville
Isabel M. Bernedo
University of Malaga
Esperanza León
University of Seville
4
The Research Trajectory of the Collaborating Families Programme in Spain
Esperanza León
University of Seville
Nuria Molano
University of Seville
Laura Belmonte
University of Seville
Lucía González-Pasarín
University of Málaga
Ana Yira Osorio
University of Málaga
Isabel M.  Bernedo
University of Málaga)
5
Beyond Care Models: Reflections on the Vienna Quality in Care Statement and the Need for Context-Sensitive Alternative Care Systems
Patrick Reason
FICE Brasil
Room 4
Well-being, life satisfaction and social support
1
Dreams and Aspirations of Children in Family Foster Care as a Neglected Systemic. Dimention: Between Experiences of Loss and the Construction of identity and Resilience.
Barbara Chruslinska
Warsaw University
2
The Development of Caregiver–Youth Relationships in Foster Care: The Role of Adolescent Self-Regulation and Parental Reflective Functioning
Lorena Maneiro Boo
Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
Eunice  Magalhães
Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
Joana Baptista
Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
3
Mental Health and wellbeing related social support for care-experienced children and young people: A Scoping Review of type, source and quality
Rebecca Anthony
Cardiff University
4
Patterns of Perceived Social Support and Associations with Mental Health and Wellbeing among Adolescents in Care in Wales
Rebecca Anthony
Cardiff University
5
Understanding Social Support of Children and Young People with Care Experience in Wales, UK: Insights from Creative Qualitative Methods
Rebecca Anthony
Cardiff University
Room 5
System contexts, development and cultural diversity
1
Bridging Gaps in North Macedonia’s Foster Care System: A Policy-Oriented Analysis
Natasha Bogoevska
Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
Suzana Bornarova
Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
Sofija Georgievska
Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
2
Rethinking Foster Care in the Italian Context
Cinzia Canali
Fondazione Emanuela Zancan
3
Barriers and Enablers of Operationalising Foster Care in India: Evidence from An Empirical Study
Ankit Keshri
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
4
The Intersection of Adolescent Motherhood and Child Protection Systems: Interdisciplinary Insights from Romania
Elena Bujor
University of Bucharest
5
Medidas para fomentar el acogimiento familiar de la infancia migrante en España
Celia Limpo
Plataforma de Infancia
Room 6
Sustaining quality: carrers, training and child well-being
1
Unrelated foster carers in France and England: motivations and institutional challenges
Perrine Corcuff
Université Paris Nanterre
2
Foster parents’ psychological adjustment during the first six months of foster care placement
Kamila Araújo
Lusófona University, HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction Labs
Joana Baptista
Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), CIS-Iscte
Cláudia Camilo
Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte-IUL), CIS-Iscte
Mariana Negrão
CEDH, Portuguese Catholic University
Mariana Justo
ProChild CoLab Against Poverty and Social Exclusion – Association (ProChild CoLAB)
Rita Luz
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, NOVA University of Lisbon
Isabel Soares
ProChild CoLab Against Poverty and Social Exclusion – Association (ProChild CoLAB)
Stephanie Alves
Lusófona University, HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction Labs
3
Education of professionals in Foster care - Fast train ticket in the Foster care development in Republic of Srpska
Andrea Rakanovic-Radonjic
University of Banja Luka, Faculty of political science
Andrea Puhalić
University of Banja Luka, Faculty of politicak science
4
Understanding Life Satisfaction in Foster Care: A Qualitative Exploration of Youth Perspectives
Ivana Borić
University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
Andreja Šprem
University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
Andrea Ćosić
University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
5
Perceções de bem-estar nas crianças.  Um estudo comparativo com crianças em acolhimento residencial, familiar e população em geral.
Fátima Correia
ESE IPP
Paulo Delgado
ESE IPP
João Carvalho
Universidade Portucalense
16:00 - 16:30
CoffeE - Break
16:30 - 18:00
Symposium  session
Room 1
Kinship care and the boundaries of permanence
1
Symposia Kinship Care in Southern Europe: Challenges, Practices, and Perspectives in Spain and Portugal
João Paulo Ferreira Delgado
Instituto Politécnico do Porto
João M. S. Carvalho
Centro de Investigação e Inovação em Educação, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Joana Soares
Centro de Investigação e Inovação em Educação, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Rachel Baptista
Tribunal Judicial do rio de Janeiro
Carme Montserrat
Universidad de Girona
Isabel Bernedo
Universidad de Málaga
Lucía Gonzalez
Universidad de Lleida
Ana Osorio
Universidad de Málaga
Alexis Alonso
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
2
Center and Target in Family Foster Care: Redefining the Boundaries between Foster Care and Adoption
Silvia Vidale
Azienda dei Servizi Sociali di Bolzano
Room 2
Listening, contact and relational foster care
1
‘Voices vanish in bureaucratic systems’ Listening to voices in foster care: towards a relational approach
Clementine Degener
Netherlands Youth Institute
2
Quality and Modalities of Family Contact in Out-of-Home Care: Cross-National Perspectives and Implications for Professional Practice
Karine Poitras
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Isabel M. Bernedo
Universidad de Málaga
João Paulo Ferreira Delgado
Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Lucía González-Pasarín
Universidad de Málaga
Room 3
Cases, legal pathways and system responses
1
Understanding „the Case“ in Different Foster Care Settings
Antonia  Finckh
Technische Universität Dortmund
Nina Flack
Universität Osnabrück
Bernd Hackmann
Universität Osnabrück
Daniela Reimer
ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften
2
Legal Pathways and Predictive Analytics: Four Perspectives on Enhancing System Responses
Clark Peters
University of Missouri
Fred Wulczyn
Chapin Hall
Bridgette  Lery
Urban Institute
Joseph  Ryan
University of Michigan
Room 4
Trauma, exploitation and mental health in care systems
1
Rethinking Foster Care Through the Lens of Child Sexual Exploitation: Emotional Distress, Anger, and Implications for Intervention
Nadine Lanctot
Université de Sherbrooke
Aziz Essadek
Université Paris Cité
Maéva Genin
Université de Sherbrooke.ca
2
Beyond child protection: cumulative adversities, social vulnerability and access to mental health among youth experiencing precarity
maha najdini
University of Lorraine
Maud Cappelletti
University of Lorraine
aziz essadek
univeristy of paris cité
Room 5
Leaving care, history and belonging
1
Can Burned-Out Systems Build Hope? A Whole-System Well-Being Model for Youth  Leaving Care
Angela Pharris
University of Oklahoma
2
The Long Shadow of Care: Historical Perspectives on Foster Care, Kinship, and Belonging in Britain (c1850-present)
Kate Wilson
Newcastle
18:30
Seminar  Dinner
September 10
09:30 - 11:00
Parallel  session 3
Room 1
Kinship care: policy, intervention and caregiver support
1
The Reflective Fostering Study - Evaluation of the Reflective Fostering Programme as support for foster carers and the children they care for.
Karen Irvine
University of Hertfordshire
Nicholas Midgley
UCL
Sheila Redfern
Redfern Psychology
Jamie Murdoch
Kings College London
Caroline Smith
Kent County Council
Sarah Byford
Kings College London
David Wellsted
Univeristy of Hertfordshire
Erika Sims
University of East Anglia
Lee Shepstone
University of East Anglia
2
What Do We Know About Kinship Care in Portugal? Professional Perspectives and reflections
João Paulo Ferreira Delgado
Instituto Politécnico do Porto
João M. S.  Carvalho
Centro de Investigação e Inovação em Educação, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Rachel Baptista
Tribunal Judicial do Rio de Janeiro
Joana Soares
Centro de Investigação e Inovação em Educação, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto
3
Between Care and School: Kinship Caregivers’ Support for Adolescents’ Educational Pathways and the Role of Group-Based Intervention — A Multiple-Case Study
Judit Rabassa
Universitat de Barcelona
Nuria Fuentes-Peláez
Universitat de Barcelona
Daniela Reimer
ZHAW University of Applied Sciences
Gemma Crous
Universitat de Barcelona
4
MIAF®-API: Addressing the challenges of kinship foster care
Cláudia Ramos
ProChild CoLAB
Sandra Ornelas
ProChild CoLAB
Patrícia Bacelar
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Cláudia Paulo
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
 Helena Grangeia
ProChild CoLAB & JusGov
5
Re-thinking: limits and opportunities of Kinship Care Support
Nuria Fuentes-Peláez
Universitat de Barcelona
Judit Rabassa
Universitat de Barcelona
Ainoa  Mateos
Universitat de Barcelona
Almendra Espinoza
Universitat de Barcelona
Belén Parra
Universitat de Barcelona
Room 2
Children’s voices, participation, identity and memory
1
"Institutional Memory": Preserving Life Stories amidst Staff Turnover
efrat pskciarz bechor
orr-shalom
2
How do foster children in Flanders experience a placement breakdown
Johan Vanderfaeillie
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Delphine West
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Nienke Derkoningen
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
3
Child participation in foster care: representational and systemic issues as reported by foster carers in France
euillet séverine
Nanterre University
Coralie Aranda
Observatoire Départemental de la protection de l'enfance du Nord
4
Children’s Participation in Foster Care: The Promise and Limits of Satisfaction Surveys
Gaëlle Aeby
HES-SO Valais-Wallis
5
Behind the Care: The Experiences of Children of Foster Carers
Rachel Roper
Manchester Metropolitan University
Room 3
Assessment, instruments and evaluation in foster care
1
Preliminary validation of The Family Pack of Questionnaires and Scales for the Portuguese context
Carlos Silva Peixoto
Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto
Jenny Gray
Child and Family Training
Stephen Pizzey
Child and Family Training
2
What does the international academic literature say about the interventions aimed at improving the educational outcomes for children in care? An umbrella review on what works for children and young people in care or transitioning from care.
Marta Garcia-Molsosa
Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya
3
Towards an Inclusive Assessment Process
Peter Unwin
University of Worcester
4
Learning from Failure: Conducting Rigorous Evaluation in the Realities of Children’s Social Care
India Thompson
Centre for Evidence and Implementation
Paola Castellanos
Centre for Evidence and Implementation
5
Modelo Integrado de Acolhimento Familiar: Avaliação da Formação Inicial pelos Profissionais e Candidatos a Família de Acolhimento
Beatriz  Ribeiro Casado
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Mariana Negrão
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Room 4
Governance, implementation and workforce inclusion
1
Constructing Educational Expectations in Foster Care: A Qualitative Comparison of Foster Carers and Biological Parents.
Nienke Derkoningen
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Johan Vanderfaeillie
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
2
The exclusion of disabled people from the UK foster care workforce
Peter Unwin
University of Worcester
3
Para Além da Intervenção: O Modelo de Governação como Condição para a Qualidade no Acolhimento Familiar
Patricia Bacelar
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Claudia Paulo
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Mariana  Santos
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Joana Bacelar
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Filipe Barros
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
4
Acolher quem Acolhe - os grupos de suporte como factor promotor de continuidade e bem-estar das Famílias de Acolhimento
Mariana Santos
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Joana Rosa
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Filipe Barros
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
5
Child Protection Professionals’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intentions Toward Family Foster Care: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal
Joana Baptista
ISCTE-IUL
Room 5
Contact, relationships and family dynamics
1
Exploring the Perspectives of Key Adults towards Sibling Relationships of Children in Contact with Child Protection Services (CPS): An Integrative Review
Prizma Ghimire
University of Stavanger
2
Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment and Parenting as a Private Matter Among Non-Kinship Foster Mothers and Non-Foster Mothers
Delphine West
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Camille Verheyden
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Nienke Derkoningen
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Johan Vanderfaeillie
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
3
Supervised parent–child contact in family foster care: Prevalence and determinants in Flanders
Camille Verheyden
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Matthias De Coster
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Frank Van Holen
Pleegzorg Vlaams-Brabant en Brussel
4
From Care to Connection: Emotion Socialization as a Missing Piece in Family Foster Care
Kamila Araújo
Lusófona University, HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction Labs
 Inês Jongenelen
Lusófona University, HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction Labs
Sophie Havighurst
The University of Melbourne, Mindful-Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health
Stephanie Alves
Lusófona University, HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction Labs
5
Famílias de acolhimento na Região Autónoma da Madeira: contributo das capacidades específicas das famílias no nível de satisfação com a vida e superação de dificuldades das crianças e jovens acolhidas/os
Carla Silva
Instituto de Segurança Social da Madeira, IP-RAM
Room 6
Placement pathways, permanence and service development
1
Children in foster-to-adopt families: profiles and placement trajectories
Doris Chateauneuf
Centre de recherche universitaire sur les jeunes et les familles
Nadine Sirois
Université du Québec en Outaouais
Geneviève Pagé
Université du Québec en Outaouais
2
Respite Care in Foster Families: An Evaluation Based on the Experiences of Children and Caregivers
suzana vargovic
breza association
3
Desafios e Perspectivas do Serviço de Acolhimento em Família Acolhedora no Brasil
Janete Valente
Unicamp
4
Mulheres e seus Filhos em Família Acolhedora: a Metodologia Inovadora Amiga Acolhedora no Brasil
Patrick Reason
FICE Brasil
5
Foster Care as a Bridge to Permanency: Adopters' Perspectives on the Transition of Children in Romania
Anca Bejenaru
Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee - Break
11:30 - 12:15
Daniela Reimer
What is a foster family?
12:15 - 12:30
Final closing  remarks
14:30 - 16:30
Post-Seminar Session

Open to seminar participants.
Free of charge, but registration is required using the registration form.
The session will be held in Portuguese.

Registration

Registration is open
until September 2, 2026.
Student
50€
Payment must be made
via bank transfer.
Lunch
Coffee breaks
Register
Student
75€
Payment must be made
via bank transfer.
Lunch
Coffee breaks
Seminar Dinner
Register
Researchers, teachers, and professionals
140€
Payment must be made
via bank transfer.
Lunch
Coffee breaks
Seminar Dinner
Register

Keynotes

Jorge Fernández del Valle

Prof. Fernández del Valle begun his professional career (1981) as a psychologist in child care services, including residential care, adoption and family intervention programs. Since 1989 he entered the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Oviedo (Spain), where he is currently full professor of psychosocial intervention and director of the Child and Family Research Group. As a researcher his main focus is on program evaluation and quality of child care services and he has made the first national research about evaluation of family foster care in Spain. He has also developed different tools for improving practice in residential child care, as well as the publication of the national Quality Standards of Residential care. He has published more than 100 peer reviewed articles and 15 books and he has participated in more than 70 research projects. He is member of several international research networks in the field of child welfare (EUSARF, INTRAC, TRC, etc.)

Daniela Reimer

Daniela Reimer is a Professor of Childhood, Youth and Family at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, Department of Social Work. Her background is in social work and educational science. She has been involved in research on family foster care since 2006. In 2016, she received her PhD with a thesis on biographies of young people from foster care. The dissertation was awarded the German Child and Youth Welfare Prize. In her recent and current research her focus is on images of foster families, professional support for foster children and foster families, kinship care, prevention of sexual violence in care settings. In addition to her research, she is involved in the teaching and training of professionals in social work history and theory and various aspects of child welfare as well as child-friendly justice.

Committees

Organising Committee
Helena Carvalho
Paulo Delgado
Pedro Rodrigues
Ruth Sampaio
Sónia Teixeira
Susana Lopes
Vitor Oliveira
Scientific Committee
Ana Bertão
Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Portugal

Carme Monteserrat
Universitat de Girona, Spain

Cinzia Canali
Emanuela Zancan Foundation, Italy

Daniela Reimer
Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland

Hélène Join Lambert
Université Paris Nanterre, France

Isabel Timóteo
inED, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Portugal

Jane Valente
Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP, Brasil

João Carvalho
Universidade Portucalense, Portugal

Johan Vanderfaeillie
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels

Núria Fuentes
University of Barcelona, Spain

Rachel Baptista
Tribunal de Justiça do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Sílvia Barros
inED, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Portugal

Promoting Entities

Partner Entities