This master’s thesis examines the implementation and functioning of the Individual Project Group (IPG) within the context of foster care, focusing on the experiences of all participants involved. The IPG is designed to integrate the child in foster care, their biological family, their foster family, and the social worker overseeing the placement. Additionally, the group may be extended to include other relevant participants in the child's life. The research employed a qualitative methodology, utilizing semi-standardized open-ended interviews to collect data. Interviews were conducted with four foster children, four foster caregivers, three representatives of biological families, and four social workers specializing in foster care. The study aimed to explore the participants' experiences with the IPG process, the challenges they encounter and their strategies for addressing these challenges, the impact of IPG agreements on the lives and work of all participants, the skills social workers utilize to manage the group, and the methods employed to monitor progress and improve group functioning. The findings indicate that regular, professionally facilitated IPG meetings are positively received by all participants and are deemed essential for monitoring the child’s development in foster care. Challenges that arise within the group are typically resolved through open communication and collaborative problem-solving. Participants expressed a desire for systemic changes to provide additional support to all involved in the foster care process.
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