Ambivalent Relationships: Adolescent’s Experiences with Child Welfare Services in Kinship Foster Care Placements

This chapter focuses on adolescents in kinship foster care in Norway. Children in kinship foster care are enrolled in the Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS); consequently, although they are living with their family, they must accept and interact with CWS professionals as part of their everyday lives. We explore an asymmetric relationship based on eight in-depth interviews with adolescents in kinship foster care, using the theory of sociological ambivalence. Our findings show experiences of ambivalence on three levels. The asymmetric role-relationship between adolescents and CWS generates ambivalence due to contradictive views towards CWS, produced mixed feelings during interaction, and is emotionally challenging to manage.