If I’m Here, It’s Because I Do Not Have Anyone”: Social Support for the Biological Family during the Foster Care Process

Social support is a crucial element for families in vulnerable situations, especially for those with children in foster care processes. This support is key to the acceptance of the protection measure in the initial moments and to laying the foundations for collaboration towards reunification. However, the social support of these families is limited, and families’ use of support elements is strongly related to their attitude towards them. The aims of this article were to identify the types and characteristics of social support and to analyze what elements influence families’ attitudes towards these supports. The qualitative study research was carried out in Spain through focus groups and interviews with 135 participants: 63 professionals from child protection services, 42 parents, and 30 children and adolescents who had been in foster care measures. Results show the diversity of social support resources available to families and demonstrate that families make unequal use of such resources depending on factors such as their experiences in the process of formalization and communication of the protection measure or their predisposition to receive support, among others. The important role played by social support resources in the promotion of factors that allow for successful reception and reunification is highlighted.This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, grant number RTI2018-099305-B-C21 and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, grant number EDU2014-52921-C2-1- R of the Government of Spain, and the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants of the Generalitat of Catalonia, grant number 2017SGR905

Claves de acción socioeducativa para promover la participación de las familias en procesos de acogimiento

The positive parenting perspective is contributing towards changing theintervention model with families involved in the child welfare system. Fromthis perspective, the participation of the biological family is seen as a keyfactor which facilitates the returning home of children, promotes parentinvolvement and helps to create awareness about the real reasons for thefamily separation. This research shows the results of a study carried out inSpain, the aim of which was to analyze the participation of the family atthe beginning of the separation, a crucial moment for the intervention. Toachieve this goal, a qualitative study was carried out using an exploratorydesign with focus groups and semi-structured interviews of 135 participants:63 professionals who worked in child welfare, 30 fostered children and adolescents and 42 fathers and mothers who were the parents of these children and adolescents. The results of the study consider some areas related to the information that families received in depth, as well as their involvement and participation in the fostering process. Some findings may be highlighted include the lack of information provided about the legal aspects of fostering, the lack of knowledge related to the characteristics of foster placement and the few opportunities for parents to be involved in decision making. In this regard, the article proposes different socio-educative key actions to improve professional practices and to reinforce the involvement of parents.El enfoque de la parentalidad positiva está contribuyendo a cambiar el modelo de intervención en el Sistema de Protección a la Infancia y a la Adolescencia. Desde este enfoque, la participación de la familia biológica se contempla como un elemento esencial que facilita la vuelta a casa de los hijos, promueve la implicación de los padres y ayuda a incrementar su conciencia sobre los motivos reales de la separación. El artículo muestra los resultados de un estudio llevado a cabo en España cuyo objetivo fue analizar la participación de la familia en el momento en el que comienza la medida de acogimiento, ya que esta conforma una fase fundamental en la intervención. Para ello, se ha realizado una investigación cualitativa utilizando grupos de discusión y entrevistas semi-estructuradas con 135 participantes: 63 profesionales del Sistema de Protección, 30 niños y adolescentes involucrados en procesos de acogimiento y reunificación y 42 padres de estos jóvenes. Los resultados profundizan en ciertos ámbitos relacionados con la información que las familias reciben, así como en su implicación y participación en el proceso. Entre los hallazgos, se resalta la sensación de vacío informacional de los padres en cuanto a los aspectos legales y las características del recurso de acogida, así como las escasas oportunidades que se les ofrecen para implicarse en la toma de decisiones. Al respecto, se proponen acciones socioeducativas encaminadas a optimizar la práctica profesional e involucrar a las familias en la mejora del ejercicio de su parentalidad

An in vitro batch fermentation protocol for studying the contribution of food to gut microbiota composition and functionality

Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-021-00537-x.This study was supported by the EU project Stance4Health (contract no. 816303) and by the Plan propio de Investigación y Transferencia of the University of Granada under the program ‘Intensificación de la Investigación, modalidad B’ to J.A.R.-H.Knowledge of the effect of foods on gut microbiota composition and functionality is expanding. To isolate the effect of single foods and/or single nutrients (i.e., fiber, polyphenols), this protocol describes an in vitro batch fermentation procedure to be carried out after an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, this is an extension of the previous protocol described by Brodkorb et al. (2019) for studying in vitro digestion. The current protocol uses an oligotrophic fermentation medium with peptone and a high concentration of fecal inoculum from human fecal samples both to provide the microbiota and as the main source of nutrients for the bacteria. This protocol is recommended for screening work to be performed when many food samples are to be studied. It has been used successfully to study gut microbiota fermentation of different foodstuffs, giving insights into their functionality, community structure or ability to degrade particular substances, which can contribute to the development of personalized nutrition strategies. The procedure does not require a specific level of expertise. The protocol takes 4–6 h for preparation of fermentation tubes and 20 h for incubation.EU project Stance4Health (contract no. 816303)Plan propio de Investigación y Transferencia of the University of Granada under the program ‘Intensificación de la Investigación, modalidad

Circulating levels of butyrate are inversely related to portal hypertension, endotoxemia, and systemic inflammation in patients with cirrhosis

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are gut microbiota-derived products that participate in maintaining the gut barrier integrity and host's immune response. We hypothesize that reduced SCFA levels are associated with systemic inflammation, endotoxemia, and more severe hemodynamic alterations in cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis referred for a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement (n = 62) or a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement (n = 12) were included. SCFAs were measured in portal (when available), hepatic, and peripheral blood samples by GC-MS. Serum endotoxins, proinflammatory cytokines, and NO levels were quantified. SCFA levels were significantly higher in portal vs. hepatic and peripheral blood. There were inverse relationships between SCFAs and the severity of disease. SCFAs (mainly butyric acid) inversely correlated with the model for end-stage liver disease score and were further reduced in patients with history of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. There was an inverse relationship between butyric acid and HVPG values. SCFAs were directly related with systemic vascular resistance and inversely with cardiac index. Butyric acid inversely correlated with inflammatory markers and serum endotoxin. A global reduction in the blood levels of SCFA in patients with cirrhosis is associated with a more advanced liver disease, suggesting its contribution to disease progression.-Juanola, O., Ferrusquía-Acosta, J., García-Villalba, R., Zapater, P., Magaz, M., Marín, A., Olivas, P., Baiges, A., Bellot, P., Turon, F., Hernández-Gea, V., González-Navajas, J. M., Tomás-Barberán, F. A., García-Pagán, J. C., Francés, R. Circulating levels of butyrate are inversely related to portal hypertension, endotoxemia, and systemic inflammation in patients with cirrhosis