You and me and all of us: The significance of belonging in a continual community of children in long-term care in Norway

Abstract

This paper examines the significance of children’s social lives and communities with other children, particularlyfor one group of children growing up in a care arrangement combining residential and foster care in Norway.Eight children (aged 11–17) living in care arrangements and three former residents (aged 18–27) participated inindividual, paired, or group interviews. In addition, participatory observation at a social gathering of formerresidents was conducted. Sociocultural perspectives informed the analysis. Three overall stories were categor-ized:“we do”stories; stories of available communities;andstories of me, you, and us: a storytelling community. Thesestories highlight particular interconnected aspects of the children’s social lives and communities within theircare arrangements, across contexts, and through time. Thefindings emphasize the significance of consistentlybelonging to a community of children in care as a source of vital social participation, learning, and developmentand supportive and lasting relationships among children. Thefindings also stress the necessity of professionalfacilitation to enable relationships among children. Thesefindings have implications for the conceptions ofchildren’s needs and developmental well-being while growing up in care and, accordingly, implications for themanagement of long-term care in terms of providing adequate developmental support and care for childrendependent on the state as their overarching care