Transition from Residential to Foster Care, Leading to the Reunification of Separated Children with Their Birth Families: The Albanian Case

Foster care, introduced as a novel alternative for children without parental care or at risk in Albania, was included in the government strategy for the first time in 2008. This chapter aims to explain foster care case management factors, from macro- to micro-level, addressing challenges in rebuilding family relations, with the ultimate goal, where possible, of reuniting children with their birth family. It examines normative, cultural, and practical aspects of the foster care process, with a focus on the social work perspective. The case study, highlighting the initial pilot of foster care as part of the Albanian government’s de-institutionalisation strategy, reveals the necessity of combining a top-down approach with bottom-up efforts to raise community awareness and mitigate barriers related to the traditional culture and mentality of Albanian society. Moreover, it emphasises the need for capacity building among local government and other community stakeholders to provide child and family services and to de-institutionalise social work practices. Methodologically, the chapter relies on a thorough examination of the legal framework, strategies, and insights from social workers, judges, and birth/foster families involved in foster care programmes (The author started the social work professional experience as a case manager of foster care piloting in Tirana.). The research question focuses on how social workers manage the process to guarantee the child’s right to a family. The lessons learned from this case study can be valuable in informing reunification strategies for separated children in various contextual situations.