The emotional bond lies at the heart of foster care and adoption. Attachment Theory and related research provide a vital framework for understanding the behaviors and strengths and weaknesses of the relationships that children carry from the complex environments they come from.

This official guide's release provides an overview of the key concepts of Attachment Theory and the Secure Base model of therapeutic care. It traces the paths of secure and insecure attachment types from birth to adulthood, exploring the impact of past experiences of abuse, neglect, and separations on children's behavior within the context of foster and adoptive families.

It then explains the parenting factors of the Secure Base that relate to providing support to children so they feel more secure and can achieve their potential within the family and the community. Ultimately, it addresses the central role that the concept of attachment can play in the design and implementation of child placement practices within family settings while also providing useful advice to caregivers on how to act as a secure base.

Through vivid examples, the experiences of foster and adoptive families are highlighted. This book is an essential tool for students, social workers, foster and adoptive parents, and all professionals seeking to ensure that children in need of family care have the best possible experiences within the care they receive and that foster caregivers and adoptive parents receive the support they need and deserve.