Between Vulnerability and Resilience: Investigating the Experiences of Parents of Children in Alternative Care

This chapter examines the psychosocial functioning of birth families whose children have been placed in alternative care following judicial intervention. Using a systemic-relational perspective, the study focuses on so-called “multiproblem families,” marked by cumulative vulnerabilities such as poverty, social isolation, mental health issues, and compromised parenting capacities. While much research tends to center on the perspectives of children or professionals, this study aims to highlight the often-overlooked viewpoints of parents. It explores how they perceive their own family functioning and their relationship with social services, with the goal of identifying both areas of risk and untapped resources that may support resilience. The study was conducted in collaboration with a local social service agency in Northern Italy. Forty-one biological parents of children in outof- home care participated. Data were gathered using the Family Environment Scale (FES), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and a custom-designed semantic differential scale to assess parental perceptions of social services. Results reveal complex and ambivalent relationships between families and services, often characterized by mistrust, emotional exhaustion, and limited understanding of the intervention process. However, findings also indicate unexpectedly high levels of relational trust and secure attachment traits in some parents. Correlational analyses show that trust in relationships is associated with family cohesion and expressiveness, and inversely related to conflict and control. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing parental strengths and involving them as active partners in foster care pathways. The chapter advocates for a more integrated, family-centered approach that goes beyond deficit-based models and acknowledges the resilience potential within vulnerable families.