Supporting the development of looked-after children: what we know and what we need to do

This seminar will summarise a program of research that has been conducted at the Australian Centre for Child Protection. This program aims to synthesize and translate current research on the developmental needs of looked after children into effective interventions and supports.

Dr McLean will describe the findings from structured literature reviews about the needs of looked after children.

Combining this knowledge with the views of almost 400 foster carers has created a profile of the support needs for looked after children. The implications of these findings for supporting educational and placement stability will be explored. Because of the often invisible impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on development, the needs of this group of looked-after children will be emphasised.