The Foster carer-Foster child Intervention (FFI) was developed to help foster carers recognise and cope with the stress that foster children under the age of five might experience when placed in a new family. Children who have been neglected or abused may have difficulty coping with stress and develop behavioural problems, and young children in particular can develop passive avoidance behaviour as a way of adapting to their new situation. The FFI aims to improve the interaction between foster carer and foster child by optimising the emotional availability, parenting skills and confidence of carers in a way that makes the child feel more secure. This article by Hans WH van Andel, Hans Grietens and Erik J Knorth explains the aims and principles underlying FFI and discusses its theoretical background, which includes attachment theory, psycho-education, mindfulness therapy and video interaction training. It then details the intervention and describes how it is being implemented in Dutch foster care practice. The article ends by outlining an ongoing randomised control study to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
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