‘I Really Felt Like They Made the Decision Without Involving Me at All’: Young People's Perspectives on Participation in Foster Care Matching in Sweden

ABSTRACT This study investigates young people's experiences of participation in the matching process when placed in foster care. Matching is the process by which the social services select a foster home for an individual child. The aim of the study is to highlight participation in the matching process from the young people's perspective. The research questions are as follows: How did the young people experience their opportunities to participate? Did they feel involved in the process, and if so, how? How can young people's opportunities to participate in the matching process be understood? The empirical data are based on interviews with nine participants who had previously experienced placement in foster care by social services. The findings show that even when young people have opportunities to express their voices early in the process, there is often a lack of feedback and dialogue about the social services' subsequent decisions. Better communication, feedback, dialogue and information throughout the matching process could improve young people's sense of participation, including their voice, influence and sense of control when placed in care.