Concurrent Planning: Understanding the Placement Experiences of Resource Families

Abstract

Concurrent planning is a process by which all options for permanency are considered simultaneously for children in foster care. Children are placed with caregivers (resource parents) who are open to adoption if reunification with birth parents does not occur. This quantitative study explored resource parents’ perceptions of the concurrent planning process via surveys at two time points. Participants included resource parents of 77 infants assessed at 2 months and 1 year after placement. At Time 1, resource parents who had more birth parent visits, more concerns about legal issues, and more concerns about their interactions with the child welfare system had more negative perceptions of the placement. Although concerns decreased over time, specific concurrent planning concerns (i.e., legal issues, child welfare agency issues, birth parent visits) at Time 2 were associated with greater concerns among resource parents about the placement in general as well as about child development and behavior, perceived attachment, and their own parenting. Additionally, those with infants placed older held more concerns about their attachment to the child, the child’s attachment to them, and the child’s behavior. While concurrent planning is positive for infants in foster care, the process creates stressors for resource parents.