Our Mission
The Foster Care Research Center is the research-focused initiative of Centro Studi Affido, an Italian non-profit organisation committed to protecting the right of every child and young person to grow up in a family and to benefit from stable, supportive and meaningful relationships.
Our mission is to advance scientific knowledge on foster care, alternative care and child welfare, contributing to the development of evidence-informed policies, professional practices and services that respond effectively to the needs of children, young people and families.
The Center brings together researchers, academics and professionals from different disciplinary backgrounds, including social work, social pedagogy, psychology, education, sociology and social policy.
Our research activities focus on understanding care experiences, strengthening family-based care, improving the quality of services, and supporting young people in their transition from care to adulthood.
We seek to connect scientific research with professional practice, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, international exchange and the meaningful participation of people with lived experience of care.
Our Vision
We envision a society in which every child and young person has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment, surrounded by meaningful relationships and supported by services that respect their rights, needs and aspirations.
This vision reflects a fundamental principle of Centro Studi Affido: every child and young person should have one more bond they can rely on.
We believe that foster care and alternative care should be understood within a broader framework of family support, prevention of unnecessary family separation, social inclusion and community responsibility.
Our vision is to contribute to the development of child welfare systems in which scientific knowledge informs public policies, strengthens professional competencies and improves the quality and continuity of care.
Through research and international scientific cooperation, we aspire to promote more effective, inclusive and relationship-centred care systems, particularly for children and young people facing vulnerability and for those transitioning from care to independent adulthood.
Our Core Values
Children’s Rights and Well-being
We place the rights, dignity and well-being of children and young people at the centre of our research, recognising the fundamental importance of family relationships, protection and participation.
The Value of Relationships
We recognise that stable and meaningful relationships are essential to children’s development, emotional security and social inclusion. Research should contribute to strengthening the networks of relationships surrounding children, young people and families.
Scientific Rigour and Research Ethics
We promote methodological quality, transparency and ethical responsibility in research. Particular attention is devoted to the protection of participants, informed consent, confidentiality and the involvement of children and young people in research processes.
Interdisciplinary and International Collaboration
We encourage cooperation among researchers, professionals, universities, public institutions and civil society organisations, recognising the value of different disciplinary perspectives and national experiences.
Research for Policy and Practice
We believe that scientific knowledge should contribute to improving services, strengthening professional competencies and informing public policies concerning foster care, alternative care and child welfare.
Participation and Social Justice
We value the experiences and perspectives of children, young people, families and care-experienced individuals, promoting research that supports participation, inclusion and more equitable opportunities.