Intervention in Contexts of Child Care and Adoption

Code:

PEDH11

Acronym:

ICAA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MPSI	17	Plano de Estudos 2021	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Os estudantes deverão ter um nível mínimo de domínio da língua portuguesa, de modo a poder seguir as aulas, apropriar-se e refletir sobre a intervenção, em Português.

Objectives

This course unit aims to contribute to the promotion of knowledge and the acquisition of specific intervention skills in contexts of alternative care and adoption for future psychology professionals.

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of this course unit, students should:

1. Understand the characteristics of alternative care and adoption contexts within the Portuguese system of promotion and protection, i.e., family foster care, residential care, specialised residential care, and adoption;
2. Master the theoretical models and empirical research that validate intervention in alternative care and adoption contexts, with particular emphasis on trauma-informed models;
3. Be able to intervene within the system of children's rights promotion and protection;
4. Be able to apply empirically validated or evidence-informed intervention programmes in alternative care contexts;
5. Be able to apply empirically validated or evidence-informed intervention programmes in adoption, specifically at the level of the adoptee, adoptive parents, and prospective adopters, as well as at the qualification of professional practices;
6. Master the procedures for coordinating the actions of psychology professionals with other professionals from various disciplines who also work within the Child Protection and Welfare system

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. The bioecological model revisited: Micro, meso, exo, macro and chrono child protection systems 2. Attachment, trauma and resilience. Impact of early adversity on the development of children who navigate the protection system 3. Decision making and definition of life projects. Risk /danger assessment instruments 4. Family foster care: characteristics and needs. Preparation/qualification programs for foster carers. Intervention with the fostered child and the adult carers. The child’s birth family 5. Residential Care (RC): Characteristics and needs. Standards and quality assessment systems in RC. RC intervention programs: life history, transitions. Professional practices guided by the child's rights. Therapeutic and specialized RC 6. Adoption: Specific needs of adoptees and adopters. Adoptive parenting preparation/qualification programs. Specific adoption challenges

Mandatory literature

Brodzinsky, D.M. & Palacios, J. ; Psychological issues in adoption: Research and practice, Praeger, 205. ISBN: 9780275979706
Pösö, T., Skivenes, M., & Thoburn, J. ; Adoption from Care. International Perspectives on Children’s Rights, Family Preservation and State Intervention, Bristol University Press, 2021. ISBN: 978- 1- 4473- 5103- 0
G. Hann & C. Fertleman; The Child Protection Practice Manual, Oxford University Press, 2016. ISBN: 978–0–19–870770–7
Jill Duerr Berrick; The impossible imperative: Navigating the competing principles of Child Protection, Oxford University Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-19-067814-2
Schofield, G., & Beek, Mary; Attachment handbook for foster care and adoption, BAAF, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-903699-96-6

Comments from the literature

Other compulsory readings will be suggested throughout the classes of articles from indexed scientific journals

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methods are different depending on the type of the course. Theoretical courses use the expository method. Practical classes include the performance of experiential activities by the students, whether analyzing and experimenting intervention tools, whether training in a simulation situation or role play of an intervention strategy, or through viewing films to analyze critical behaviors .

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	25,00
Exame	75,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de campo	28,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Compulsory, according to the Regulation of the principles to be observed in the evaluation of the FPCEUP students

http://sigarra.up.pt/fpceup/LEGISLACAO_GERAL.ver_legislacao?p_nr=245.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation includes a final exam of knowledge acquisition (75%) and is distributed throughout the semester evaluated through the class participation (25%), which include the performance of short presentations to complement the teacher's theoretical presentation.