Two families joined by a child: the role of direct contact in fostering relationships between birth and carer families in permanent care

Background: Most Australian children in permanent care continue to see birth relatives. In New South Wales, foster and kinship carers are encouraged consider open adoption and guardianship, which reduces caseworker involvement in contact. Research is needed to understand what supports children's families to form positive relationships. Family systems theory is helpful to understand the kinship networks created in permanent care. Method: Semi-structured interviews with twelve birth parents and twenty six permanent carers took place in New South Wales. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify a pattern in the nature of adult relationships. The themes of 1) getting to know each other; 2) making family time; and 3) a shared future are presented. Results: Carers recognised the value of safe and meaningful contact for children and were prepared to open a space for new sub-systems to be established between their own family system and that of the child's birth family. Birth parents were willing to adapt to change if their enduring connection with their child was honoured and supported by carers. Conclusions: Both sets of adults were pragmatic about the dynamic and fragile nature of these relationships but those who had a blended kinship network were optimistic about the future.