Examining the influence of law 4538/2018 on foster care and child mental health outcomes within the greek child protection framework

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.6219

Keywords:

fostering, legislation, protection, de-institutionalization, Anynet

Abstract

The implementation of the Greek Law 4538/2018 concerning the social institution of children's fostering is examined. It is based on a doctoral thesis aimed at identifying the best practices in promoting the de-institutionalization of minors to improve their mental health. A mixed-method approach was used, beginning with a quantitative survey to the 59 Directors in Children’s Homes across Greece. 4 Children's Homes were found to be the exemplary child protection agencies in terms of fostering. The second phase of the quantitative research was carried out on their ongoing foster care cases. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 9 social workers who had undertaken these 16 children’s fosters care cases.  The research revealed that long-term foster care for children between the ages of 4-6 is widespread and often foster care leads to adoption and contact with biological family remains rare. Overall, the research argues for the urgent need for designing a unified foster care protocol across Greece to ensure consistency and effectiveness in child protection services.

Author Biographies

Ignatia Farmakopoulou , Department of Education and Social Work Sciences (ΤΕpΕΚΕ), University of Patras

Ignatia Farmakopoulou is Assistant Professor of Social Work, department of education and social work, university of Patras with the subject "social work: family counselling". She teaches seven courses such as social work with family, family counselling and family therapy. she undertook postgraduate studies in the Uk (master, ph.d, 2 post-docs) and then worked for two decades as a clinical social worker and family psychotherapist at the child psychiatric clinic of Ekpa university at the children's hospital "Agia Sophia". She has taught in several university departments, has a rich research work, numerous publications and more than 200 presentations in Greek and international conferences.

Vasiliki Baltsioti, University of Patras, Greece School Social Worker, Systemic Psychotherapist

Vassiliki Baltsioti is currently a post-doc candidate at the department of education and social work, university of Patras. Her post-doc subject is on multi-disciplinary and inter-agency collaboration of school social workers, parents and community agents in the detection of pupils who have child psychiatric disorders. Her Ph.D thesis was on the implementation of the institution of children’s fostering. She has extensive working experience as a social worker and family therapist in various agencies such as on child protection and as a school social worker in primary and secondary education. She has several international and Greek publications and presentations in conferences.

Ioannis Dimakos, Department of Education and Social Work Sciences (ΤΕpΕΚΕ), University of Patras

Ioannis Dimakos is an Assistant Professor in the Field of Psychology, Counseling, and Social Services, Department of Education and Social Work, University of Patras. His area of expertise is School Psychology with an emphasis on the Psychology of Written Language. His research interests concern the provision of psychological services in schools and the study of written expression in school-age children.

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Published

05-08-2025

How to Cite

Farmakopoulou , I., Baltsioti, V., & Dimakos, I. . (2025). Examining the influence of law 4538/2018 on foster care and child mental health outcomes within the greek child protection framework. Child Studies, (7), 121–144. https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.6219

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No. 7 (2025)

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