Home and (dis)continuity: Foster care for children with migrant backgrounds (HoMi)

HoMi explores how current arrangements impact on migrant children’s opportunities to participate and live well, while growing up in foster care and later in life. The project is led by Professor Milfrid Tonheim, Western Norway University College/NORCE and consists of three work packages. (WP1, WP2 & WP3).

At UiB Raquel Herrero Arias (WP2), Marte Knag Fylkesnes (WP3), Ragnhild Hollekim(WP3) and Eirinn Hesvik Ljones work on the project, and they collaborate with collegues locally (HVL) as well as internationally, like for example the University of Gøteborg and Linneuniversity. 

WP2 explores the perspectives that child welfare workers have on the role of children’s cultural, ethnic, and religious background when children are matched with foster parents, and their views on how to facilitate continuity. Raquel is particularly concerned with how religious affiliation is factored into decision making.

WP3 explores what it takes for foster children and foster parents to thrive together and what gives a feeling of "home". Interviews have been conducted with both children and foster parents, as well as photo/picture excersises which aim to bring forth the children's perspectives.  Important topics for Marte and Ragnhild are the significance of language for children’s experiences of a home, the relationship with family and network, as well as how to promote children's participation through choice of research methodology.

Eirinn is a PhD candidate at RKBU west/HVL. Her project focuses on how contact and visitation rights with the family can support children's identity processes and feeling of belonging while in foster care, when they have a migration background. She is connected to the HoMi project, but has her own funding from the Foundation Dam. See the link below for more information on her project.