PERMANENCY DECISION-MAKING FOR SIBLINGS IN ALTERNATIVE CARE: BETWEEN BEST INTEREST ASSESSMENT AND SYSTEMIC CONSTRAINTS
PERMANENCY DECISION-MAKING FOR SIBLINGS IN ALTERNATIVE CARE: BETWEEN BEST INTEREST ASSESSMENT AND SYSTEMIC CONSTRAINTS

Summary/Abstract: The paper explores the permanency decision-making process for siblings in the alternative care system in Serbia, with a particular focus on the implementation of the principle of the best interests of the child amidst the tension between legal permanence and the preservation of sibling continuity. Applying constructivist grounded theory, the study analysed data collected through in-depth interviews with 21 professionals from 10 social work centres and a review of the files of 26 sibling groups (N=87 children). The study identifies six key categories that shape practice, indicating that the best interests are often assessed through the prism of children”s characteristics (age, ethnicity, health status) which, along with sibling group affiliation, are treated as factors that significantly diminish the likelihood of adoption. The findings reveal the phenomenon of “passive permanency,” where a lack of strategic planning leads to long-term foster care, as well as the presence of a “save at least one child” strategy through adoption at the cost of consciously sacrificing sibling bonds. The influence of prospective adoptive parents, dubbed the “comet factor,” is particularly highlighted, whereby the power to define the child's interests is tacitly shifted toward the adopters' preferences. Furthermore, the process is characterised by poorly documented transparency and a lack of child participation. The results indicate the necessity of standardising best interest assessments, legally regulating post-adoption sibling contact, and strengthening system resources to protect sibling relationships as an integral component of the child”s identity.

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