LACE

The growing number of unaccompanied minor refugees (UMRs) arriving in Europe, as reported by Eurostat (2024), underscores the urgent need for targeted support systems. Research has shown that foster care represents a vital strategy for providing UMRs with stable and nurturing environments, which can benefit their mental health and social integration.

Despite these benefits, foster parents (kinship and non-kinship) often face substantial challenges, including feelings of isolation and inadequate support, particularly in navigating cultural differences and addressing the complex emotional needs of UMRs (Van Holen, Verberckmoes, Trogh, West, & Vanderfaeillie, 2023).

Objectives

The primary goal of the project ‘LACE - Learning Communities for Foster Parents: Working Together for the Well-being of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees’ -co-financed by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union- is to strengthen the resilience of foster parents, thereby improving the quality of life for UMRs and their foster families. In addition, the project also seeks to support families interested in fostering these young people.

This will be achieved through the establishment of learning communities where foster families, and those interested in fostering, not only gain knowledge and expertise but also share lived experiences, provide mutual support, and co-develop innovative solutions.

The specific objectives of LACE include:

1. Establish and strengthen learning communities: Create collaborative learning communities in each partner country, involving foster families or those interested in becoming so, professionals and researchers.

Within these communities, we will:

1. Conduct participatory analysis: Use participatory research methods to identify and understand the possible challenges faced by foster parents, such as isolation, trauma, and difficulties during placements.
2. Develop and share practical tools: Create a comprehensive online toolkit, providing strategies and resources to foster families.
3. Enhance resilience and competencies: Provide targeted interventions to help foster parents, or those interested in becoming foster parents, to manage the needs that where identified during the participatory analysis: cross-cultural dynamics, legal uncertainties, etc.
4. Amplify the voices of foster parents: Ensure UMRs and their foster families, or those interested in becoming foster families, actively contribute to the project, putting forward solutions that reflect their lived experiences and needs.

Expected outcomes

The project aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Increased resilience and capacity among foster parents, or those interested in becoming foster parents, to support unaccompanied minor refugees effectively.
• Reduced placement breakdown rates through enhanced preparation, support, and mutual learning.
• Improved mental health and integration outcomes for unaccompanied minor refugees.
• Strengthened networks of foster families, professionals, and researchers working collaboratively across partner countries.
• Creation of a scalable model for learning communities that can be adapted and implemented in diverse contexts across Europe.

Target groups

• Foster families, both with and without kinship relationships, or those interested in becoming foster families.
• Professionals in the fields of social work or foster care.
• Unaccompanied minor refugees.