Can we deepen the pool of Australian foster carers through enhanced training and support?

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Can we deepen the pool of Australian foster carers through enhanced training and support? Danielle J. Brooke1* and James F. Donnelly1 1 Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia Aim: One of the biggest problems in Australian foster care is that the pool of foster carers is decreasing while the number of children in out of home care is increasing. Foster carers also report that they are not supported enough in their role, leading to role dissatisfaction. The effects of a therapeutic foster care pilot program (Circle Care) showed significantly higher foster carer retention rates and role satisfaction than traditional foster care. We explored further to what extent the likelihood of remaining or becoming a foster carer would increase if each of the following, enhanced system components were provided: A specialized support system, extensive information regarding the individual child’s family and behavioural history, enhanced training, and increased funding. Method: 216 current foster carers, 48 past foster carers, and 99 prospective foster carers responded to an online survey. They rated their likelihood to remain, serve again as, or become a foster carer both before and after enhanced system components were implemented. Results: Perceived support in the role at the time of serving was identified as key covariate. A repeated measures MANCOVA revealed that for current and past carers there was a main effect of the program enhancements on likelihood ratings but no carer type by enhancement effects. A second repeated measures analysis conducted for the prospective foster carers only, also revealed a significant difference from baseline if each of the suggested Circle Care components were implemented. Conclusion: Results indicate that if agency support systems could be enhanced as described, foster carers are more likely to be retained or recruited. Keywords: Australian foster care, Out of Home Care, Role dissatisfaction, Therapeutic foster care, Retention and recruitment Conference: 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference , Coffs Harbour, Australia, 4 Oct - 5 Oct, 2018. Presentation Type: Research Topic: Abstract for 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference Citation: Brooke DJ and Donnelly JF (2019). Can we deepen the pool of Australian foster carers through enhanced training and support?. Front. Psychol. Conference Abstract: 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference . doi: 10.3389/conf.fpsyg.2018.74.00002 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 18 Sep 2018; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: Miss. Danielle J Brooke, Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia, danielle.brookey@hotmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Danielle J Brooke James F Donnelly Google Danielle J Brooke James F Donnelly Google Scholar Danielle J Brooke James F Donnelly PubMed Danielle J Brooke James F Donnelly Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.