Emerging practices of foster care in Italy within the framework of the European child guarantee: case studies from a participatory perspective

This article examines emerging foster care practices in Italy within the framework of the European Child Guarantee (2021/1004), aimed at supporting children at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Specifically, it addresses the recent update to the Italian Guidelines on Foster Care (LINA), developed in partnership with UNICEF, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, and coordinated by the Research and Intervention Laboratory in Family Education (LabRIEF) at the University of Padua. This study, set against Italy’s evolving social landscape, responds to needs unmet by the first 2012 LINA guidelines edition, focusing on four distinct foster care types: care for young children (0–3 years), children with disabilities, “light” foster care, and foster care intended to reintegrate children with their own families. Through a constructivist, co-research methodology involving multiple stakeholders—practitioners, birth families, foster families, and children—this research explores effectiveness indicators for each foster care type. Key dimensions, including structure and flexibility, outcome, sustainability, empowerment, and adherence to LINA’s core recommendations, are analysed through cross-case analysis. Findings reveal a need for more targeted, consistent training for foster care teams and a sustainable structure that supports effective family reintegration. Additionally, case studies highlight that a strong framework for mutual trust between birth and foster families significantly enhances care outcomes. While emergent practices do not fully meet the criteria for “good practice” per UNICEF standards, their innovative elements offer promising insights for evolving Italy’s foster care system. The study underscores the value of collaborative methodologies, not only of intervention, but also of research, in fostering trust, mutual understanding, and empowerment among stakeholders, advocating for policies that strengthen relational networks and support the well-being of children and families within a participatory perspective.