ABSTRACT
This inquiry identified two sets of practices that research, professional, and consumer sources considered “best” in Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC). The first set revolves around connecting to, involving, and supporting biological families; the second set focuses on TFC provider families to communicate clearly with agency staff and families, and to receive systematic support and training. While TFC overall can be considered an effective practice, current knowledge is still limited because of a lack of strong and consistent agreement within and across perspectives. For instance, the emphasis consumers and professionals put on relational practices, such as positive relationships between parties, or good communication, still awaits attention from researchers. In light of a value-critical analysis, suggestions are offered to further improve TFC practices by making them more family centered.
