Continuity for children in foster care: A policy analysis

In this paper we analyse how national policy documents frame the ideal of continuity for children in foster care in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland, and Scotland. The comparative design, including three liberal welfare states (England, Ireland, and Scotland) and three social democratic welfare states (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), allows us to highlight how various child protection systems shape foster care policies. Our analysis will elucidate different wordings, meanings, and aspects of continuity present in policies across the six countries and consider how different aspects are given weight and importance. The analysis will have a particular focus on how the child’s right to ‘cultural continuity’ are framed and weighed.