Parent-child interaction during foster care visits

The case-based research discussed in this article describes the variety of strategies mothers and young children spontaneously used to negotiate the c omplexities of foster care visiting. Nine mothers and their 24- to 48-month -old children were videotaped during their foster care visits. After each v isit, the mother participated in an in-depth, audiotaped interview. Mothers and children displayed a wide variety of responses to visits. Mothers spon taneously discussed the challenges of visits, particularly separating at th e end of visits. Implications for enhancing the quality of visits and stren gthening services are discussed.