In specialist literature, birth parents are largely examined from the perspective of foster parents and professionals, and with a problematic approach. The few studies that focus on individual circumstances and subjective experiences describe shame, guilt, inferiority, anger, grief and fear as common feelings. The role of birth parents is characterised by ambivalence (closeness/distance, desire/reality, self-determination/official intervention). Parental behaviour in this context is referred to in specialist discourse with terms such as ‘distant parenthood’, ‘parenting from afar’, ‘mother yet not mother’ and ‘parents in limbo’. The project comprises four modules that build on each other (1. Development of an evidence base and framework; 2. Ethnographic part and interviews; 3. Co-creation of a participation tool; 4. Final work and dissemination). Based on a current evidence base developed in the project through specialist literature, interviews with birth parents, care leavers, experts and field research, the so-called ‘participation tool’ forms the core of the project. It is being developed in collaboration with birth parents and a service designer and will be made readily available to birth parents, foster children, foster parents and experts. The aim of the tool is to support birth parents in their parenting, focusing on the child’s well-being and wishes as reference points. It addresses key issues in this challenging parental role (e.g. parental identity formation and parental behaviour in the context of limited parental responsibility, ways of maintaining a parental presence despite physical distance, cultural and biographical transmission between parents and children, promotion of bonding and relationship continuity, forms of community building among birth parents). These topics are discussed with the parents of origin and translated into everyday questions.
The development process follows a structured design research approach using participatory methods. Consideration is also given to whether and how the tool can be linked to the ‘Memory Box’, the biographical documentation tool for children and young people also funded by the Palatin Foundation.
The project takes place at the interface between practice (DAF), research (university) and design (Swiss Centre for Design and Health).
