Narratives of social educators on practices in institutional foster care

This study aimed to analyze the narratives of social educators regarding their practices within a foster care institution for children and adolescents in South Brazil.

Method

A narrative interview script and a sociodemographic questionnaire were employed in the investigation, involving eleven participating social educators. The interviews underwent grounded theory analysis, resulting in four emergent categories pertaining to practices (initiation, types, dimensions, context).

Results

The practices initiate in a straightforward manner and unfold gradually through caregiving, the incorporation of play, and affection. Notably, aspects of comprehensive care and humanized attention were identified.

Conclusion

The results underscore that these practices adhere to guidelines outlined by public policies. However, they also emphasize the need for continuing education to discuss specific aspects of care and strategies for evaluating the undertaken activities.

Keywords
Child institutionalized; Children and adolescent code; Early childhood education

Participant^* * Fictitious name.	Gender	Age	Experience as a social educator in the institution (months)	Marital status	Children	Education	Participation in course(s) for social educators
Maria	Female	44	28	Married	1	Middle/High School	Yes
Ana	Female	34	24	Single	1	Middle/High School	Yes
Antonia	Female	32	24	Separated	1	Middle/High School	No
Adriana	Female	26	46	Married	0	Middle/High School	Yes
Márcia	Female	27	24	Married	2	Middle/High School	Yes
José	Male	52	16	Single	0	Complete Higher Education	Yes
Fernanda	Female	27	72	Single	0	Middle/High School	Yes
Aline	Female	25	10	Married	0	Complete Higher Education	Yes
Patrícia	Female	40	60	Married	2	Middle/High School	Yes
Sandra	Female	37	12	Single	1	Middle/High School	Yes
Camila	Female	48	36	Married	3	Incomplete Higher Education	Yes

Categories	Subcategories	Thematic Elements
1 – Initiation of practices 2 – Types of practices 3 – Dimensions of practices 4 – Context of Practices	1.1 – Interaction 2.1 – Care 2.2 – Play 2.3 – Affection 3.1 – Comprehensive attention 3.2 – Humanized attention 4.1 – Reflections 4.2 – Assessment 4.3 – The focus on children and adolescents	1.1.1 – Greeting 1.1.2 – Presenting the foster care institution 2.1.1 – Welcoming 2.1.2 – Hygiene 2.1.3 – Food 2.1.4 – School activities 2.1.5 – Activities appropriate to the level of development 2.1.6 – Collective rule-making 2.1.7 – The uniqueness of each child 2.2.1 – Play 2.2.2 – Games 2.2.3 – Playground 2.2.4 – Music 2.3.1 – Bond 2.3.2 – Emotional Aspects 3.1.1 – Nutrition 3.1.2 – Health 3.1.3 – Rest 3.1.4 – Rules for coexistence 3.1.5 – Social relationship 3.1.6 – Affection 3.2.1 – Attention to the needs of each fostered individual 3.2.2 – General counseling 4.1.1 – Improving practices 4.1.2 – Positive changes in the fostered individuals 4.2.1 – Respect for others 4.2.2 – Continuous assessment of practices 4.3.1 – Caress 4.3.2 – Respect 4.3.3 – Empathy 4.3.4 – Equality

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Núcleo de Editoração SBI - Campus II, Av. John Boyd Dunlop, s/n. Prédio de Odontologia, 13060-900 Campinas - São Paulo Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 19 3343-7223 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: psychologicalstudies@puc-campinas.edu.br

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[1] Editor

André Luiz Monezi de Andrade