63

This article examines the modalities of participation of the foster family’s husband during the period of institutional follow-up after children’s placement in foster homes. This report also has a more general objective: to identify the role of the foster mother’s husband with foster children in three French foster-care models used in community services. Twenty-six husbands were interviewed and answered questionnaires. The data showed that most husbands of foster mothers did participate in follow-up of the foster children despite the lack of any institutional recognition of the role they played. The ambiguity of this “voluntary ” role is the source of difficulties that are just beginning to be recognized by some foster-care services, who are organizing discussion groups specifically geared to spouses.