Foster Placement Research Articles

Raised by White People. Conceptualisations of ‘Culture’ in the Foster Placement of African Minority Youth in Norway

AbstractThis paper examines the intricate dynamics of transethnic foster placement in Norway, focusing on African minority youth and how ‘culture’ and ‘identity’ is conceptualised within this context. Through semi-structured interviews, the study builds on the lived experiences of a set of 15 families (including 60 children), alongside insights from fostered individuals, foster parents, and a placement official. The discussion delves into the profound effects of cultural dislocation and identity crisis experienced by minority youth, problematising how foster placement often leads to adverse life trajectories, including issues with uprootedness, substance abuse, psychiatric illness, and loss of ethnic identity. At the core of the discussion is the contention that while the child protection system in Norway is mandated to safeguard children, it inadvertently neglects the cultural rights and identity development of African minority youth. Employing insight from Franz Fanon and Jean-Paul Sartre to articulate the psychological impact and moral implications of such transethnic placements, the paper argues for re-evaluating assimilation practices and cultural rights within the child protection framework, highlighting the need for a culturally sensitive and rights-based approach to foster care. This research contributes to the broader discourse on human rights and social work, emphasising the ethical and legal dimensions of fostering minority children.

The relationship between kinship and foster placement on mental health indicators in children and youth seeking treatment

BackgroundChildren living in both kinship and foster care placements often face considerable adversity. It is possible that these placements can have differential impacts on children’s socioemotional, psychological, and educational outcomes and well-being. ObjectiveThis study examined the similarities and differences between children and youth who reside in kinship placements and those who reside in foster placements. Specifically, similarities and differences in children's mental health care and service requirements, as well as their family's strengths and resources were explored to better understand the needs of children placed in out-of-home care. ParticipantsThe final sample included assessments from 5356 treatment-seeking children, ages three to 18 years old, from across 66 select mental health agencies in Ontario. MethodsChildren were assessed using the interRAI ChYMH, the ChYMH-S, or the ChYMH-DD. These assessments include a variety of embedded evidence-informed scales and algorithms to examine the mental health needs, preferences and strengths of these vulnerable children. ResultsCompared to children in kinship placements, children in foster care were more likely to: (a) exhibit greater externalizing symptoms, (b) display concerns regarding sexual behaviour, (c) encounter trauma, and (d) experience more polyvictimization. No differences were found in terms of spirituality and cultural connectedness. Additionally, kinship caregivers tended to experience greater distress, compared to foster caregivers. ConclusionsFindings from this study highlight important areas where children residing in out-of-home care, particularly those in foster care, require increased access to mental health resources and support. Furthermore, trauma-informed care should always be at the forefront when working with foster and kinship care children and their families.

Examining Financial Hardship and Caregiver Subgroups in Kinship Foster Placements: A Machine Learning Approach

Children placed with kinship foster parents can experience less disruption and stronger family ties than children in non-kinship placements. However, financial hardship can restrict kinship caregivers from taking in relatives’ children. This study investigated (1) kinship caregivers’ financial standing compared to a national subsample of caregivers and (2) whether certain factors moderate the likelihood that a kinship caregiver will be able to provide care for additional non-relative children without additional financial assistance from the Department of Social Services (DSS). This study utilized primary data from 345 relatives across North Carolina and nationally representative secondary data on 6394 individuals’ financial circumstances. One-sample t-tests and chi-square goodness-of-fit tests revealed that caregivers who participated in our study generally fared better financially than caregivers at the national level. Model-based recursive partitioning results showed that if an additional child is placed in the home, the caregiver’s perceived capacity to provide care without extra DSS support decreased by approximately 19%, with a greater decrease (35%) among a subgroup of caregivers with low financial well-being status. The heterogeneity in caregivers’ experiences, capacities, and financial needs buttresses the need for nuanced interventions and programs targeting these caregivers, enabling them to provide more stable care for children placed in their homes.

Sleep Health among Children Adopted from Foster Care: The Moderating Effect of Parent–Child Sleep Interactions

ABSTRACT Objectives Sleep disruption is prevalent among children placed in foster care, elevating risk for a range of deleterious outcomes. Theoretically, achieving permanency via adoption may have a positive influence on children’s sleep via the presence of various factors, but little is known about the sleep health of children adopted from foster care, including predictors and moderators of sleep health. Method The current study included 226 parents who adopted a child from foster care in the U.S. (aged 4–11 years) within the past two years and a propensity score matched sample of 379 caregivers of children currently in foster care. Both samples completed online questionnaires about their child’s sleep, physical, and mental health. Results Comparatively, children in foster care experienced more nightmares, night terrors, moving to someone else’s’ bed during the night, and worse overall sleep quality, whereas adopted children were reported to experience significantly more nighttime awakenings. In the adopted sample, a greater number of prior foster placements unexpectedly predicted lower total sleep disturbance scores, but this relationship was moderated by parent–child interactions around sleep. In general, greater parental involvement in children’s sleep was associated with lower levels of child sleep disturbance. Conclusions Findings suggest that while specific sleep problems might remit after children in foster care achieve permanence, nighttime sleep fragmentation often persists. Parent–child interactions surrounding sleep may be pivotal in improving sleep health in this population.

Economic impact of CarePortal donations in Glynn County, Georgia

ABSTRACT CarePortal allows community members to partner with the Division of Family and Child Services and make donations intended to prevent children from entering foster care or support current foster/kinship placements. This paper builds on the existing literature to estimate the average, per-child economic impact of preventing a child’s entering care ($83,270.54) and the economic impact of one dollar donated to strengthen an existing foster placement ($2.20). These estimates were used to evaluate the economic impact of all CarePortal donations in Glynn County, Georgia, in FY2021, a total of $5,704,451.92, impacting 97 children and helping strengthen 19 foster/kinship homes.

Assessing Foster/Adoptive Parent Training Curriculum's Improvement of Resource Parent Knowledge and Skills

Purpose Caregiving for children in foster, kinship, and adoptive placements (hereon referred to as resource parenting) is a challenging role that requires unique knowledge and skills, but there is limited evidence for currently available trainings. The National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC) was recently developed with support from the US Children's Bureau. Methods Baseline and 6-month follow-up surveys from 540 resource parents receiving NTDC training and 409 receiving training-as-usual (propensity score matched; group assignment based on location) were compared on a variety of knowledge types and skills. Results NTDC parents had larger growth in trauma-informed parenting, potential to promote positive child development, and key resource parent knowledge from baseline to post-training. NTDC parent growth in receptivity to working with biological parents approached but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions NTDC offers promise as a new training resource for improving resource parent knowledge and skills.

When child trafficking and informal fostering intersect

Informal fostering is an important tradition for many communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the intersections of poverty and social circumstances may increase the risk of exploitation for informally fostered children. We used mixed methods to estimate the prevalence of child trafficking within informal child fostering placements in Sierra Leone, to document vulnerability factors and explore perceptions of key stakeholders. Data were collected through 1) a household survey (N= 3,070), 2) interviews (N= 41) with young adults who experienced child trafficking in informal fostering, parents of children who experienced trafficking in foster placements, and key informants, and 3) focus groups with community members (N= 23). We found that informal fostering increases the likelihood for children to experience trafficking. Although there are significant associations between child trafficking and informal fostering, social (gender and cultural traditions) and economic factors (poverty and school access) appear to be drivers for both. Our results suggest that strengthening poverty reduction measures, expanding opportunities for schooling and vocational training for children and young adults, and improving safety for children in informal fostering arrangements through reporting and monitoring are essential to mitigate the high rates of child trafficking in Sierra Leone, and to ensure children’s well-being in informal fostering placements.

Placement breakdown in Flemish family foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors. Experiences of non-kinship foster parents

This qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with twelve foster parents who took care of unaccompanied refugee minors (URM; mainly Afghan boys aged 15 to 16 years old) examines two research questions: “How do non-kinship foster parents of Caucasian ethnicity experience placement breakdown of unaccompanied children?”, and “What could have prevented placement breakdown?” Foster parents perceived breakdown as a failure and reported a major emotional impact on themselves, their children and on their family life. Although most of them thought breakdown could not have been avoided, three factors were reported: not assigning a study grant if the youngster is going to live independently, more psychological support for the URM, and connections to potential individuals or support systems who share the youths’ culture and traditions and who support the placement. All foster parents described multiple and various difficulties related to the care system, the URM and the social context that troubled the foster placement. Based on the experiences of foster parents several implications for practice and policy were formulated such as a better preparation, training and matching of the foster family and the URM, care planning that includes the needs of foster carers, their biological children and the URM for specialized support and adapted care; facilitating fellow contacts for foster parents and URM; organizing specialized training for foster care workers, and developing a post-intervention program for foster families who experienced breakdown.

Neurobiological characteristics of individuals who have committed sexual offenses: A systematic review

Sexual violence is recognized as one of the most serious forms of violence. Assessment of individuals with history of sexual offenses is essential to inform placement decisions (e.g., inpatient or outpatient treatment, foster or residential placement), guide legal dispositions, prevent their offenses, and provide the basis for treatment planning. Insights into the neurobiological characteristics in subtypes of sexual offenses are particularly important both to the advancement of its understanding and guide research clinical efforts. The goal of this systematic review is to synthesize the findings regarding the neurobiological characteristics of individuals who have committed sexual offenses, focusing on the identification of the factors that should be targeted in the assessment of these individuals. Studies related to the topic were obtained from multiple databases, through rigorous exclusion and inclusion criteria. Only empirical studies with quantitative methodologies were included. Aims, methodological aspects (sample and instruments), and main conclusions were extracted from each study. In general, this systematic review found psychophysiological, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological studies, which used neurobiological techniques to evaluate individuals who have committed sexual offenses. A substantial part of the studies examined the neuroimaging profile of individuals who have committed sexual offenses against children with or without pedophilic interests, suggesting anatomical changes and functional deficits. Overall, there is enough evidence to support the link between specific neurobiological characteristics and sexual offenses, with this link being mainly revealed by neuroimaging and endocrinology studies. The knowledge about neurobiological characteristics implicated in sexual offending can help developing more accurate and valid protocols for the evaluation of individuals involved in such offenses, thereby improving diagnosis and treatment.

‘I’m Black but I don’t feel like I am’ – Young people’s experiences of living in transracial foster placements

Transracial foster placements are the placement of ethnic minority youths with ethnic majority foster families. Some exploration into the challenges faced by ethnic minority youths living in transracial families have highlighted a loss of identity, managing racial discrimination and white privilege. So far, the research has looked at the perspective of care leavers, adoptees and carers, however there is little research that aims to understand the perspective of the child whilst they are living in transracial foster families. This pilot study aimed to explore ethnic minority youth’s experiences of transracial foster placements, with a view to developing a training package for foster carers. Eight ethnic minority young people, aged between 12 and 18 years old, living in transracial foster placements took part in semi-structured interviews about their lived experiences. Thematic analysis was conducted on the data and an inductive approach was taken. Three themes were identified: loss of identity; living in a white world; advice for foster carers. The findings of the study outline the many challenges that young people face living in transracial foster families and highlight the need for training, policy development and further research.

Differences in the evaluation and satisfaction with foster care between kinship and non-kin foster carers

ABSTRACT Understanding the distinctive features of kinship and non-kin foster care has sparked research interest aimed at developing policies and programs. This study analyses 930 cases of fostered children (35.5% in non-kin foster care and 64.5% in kinship care) based on the information provided by child care professionals and the evaluations made by 221 foster carers (34.8% in non-kin foster care and 65.2% in kinship care) using different questionnaires. Significant differences were obtained between kinship and non-kin foster care, indicating more favourable results on stability in kinship placements, although the less favourable results regarding the education and employment of kinship carers. Significant differences were observed in how foster carers perceived their role, with kinship carers reporting greater facility in raising the fostered child and higher satisfaction with the placement. However, they were less satisfied with the financial support. Cluster analysis confirmed these differences, identifying two groups based on the overall evaluation of raising foster children and satisfaction with the placement. The findings serve to provide evidence in support of kinship care and also indicate the need to re-examine the role played by the information made available to non-kin foster parents about the biological family and the impact on the foster placement.

Prevalence and Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Among Youth With Foster Care Histories.

A small but growing body of research suggests that adolescents and young adults involved with the child welfare system and those transitioning out of foster care are at heightened risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Understanding the factors that place youth at risk of IPV is central to prevention and treatment of this public health problem. However, questions remain about the prevalence and correlates of IPV among youth in foster care. Additionally, emotional abuse, a particular form of IPV in intimate partnerships, remains an understudied area in this population. This study aimed to address these gaps in research by exploring factors associated with IPV using longitudinal data from a representative sample of older youth in California Foster Care who participated in the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (CalYOUTH). Our IPV outcome measures included victimization, perpetration, bidirectional IPV, and emotional abuse. Findings suggest that approximately one-fifth (20.4%) of CalYOUTH respondents had experienced some form of IPV at age 23, with emotional abuse and bidirectional violence being the most commonly reported types of IPV. Females reported emotional abuse, as well as bidirectional violence, at nearly double the rates of their male counterparts. Self-identified sexual minority youth (SMY; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning) were more likely to report IPV victimization, IPV perpetration, and bidirectional violence than their non-SMY peers. Youth with histories of emotional abuse, caregiver IPV victimization, sexual abuse in foster care, placement instability, substance use, anxiety, and incarceration were also at heightened risk of IPV involvement. Emotional abuse was most prevalent with SMY. The findings contribute to the growing research on IPV among transition-age foster youth with important implications for future research, practice, and policy.

Taking outside in, turning inside out: Exploring social dimensions and psychotherapeutic process in the play therapy of a young girl in foster care

ABSTRACT This paper, a collaborative effort, describes the work of A Home Within (AHW), a volunteer community-based organization providing pro-bono long term psychotherapy to current and former foster youth. We provide a brief description of the treatment model, present a report of treatment conducted by an AHW volunteer, and discuss further reflections on the societal context of our psychoanalytically-informed work. In-depth psychotherapeutic process from the treatment of a young girl in a pre-adoptive foster placement elucidates the psychotherapeutic possibilities when a psychoanalytic treatment model is accessible to current and former foster youth, usually deprived of this form of treatment due to overburdened, underfunded community mental health systems in the U.S. Open-ended psychotherapy afforded this traumatized child an unusual opportunity to work through past relational traumas in order to form new and more secure attachment relationships. We reflect further on the case from the vantage points of both the psychotherapeutic process and the greater societal context of this community-based program.

Parenting during a child's placement: A systemic perspective on parental commitment

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to document birth parents' commitment from a systemic perspective. Characteristics of birth parent's mental health (depressive symptoms), placement characteristics (family reunification, parent–child contact), and systemic characteristics (parent's perception of the foster parent's opinion on parent–child contact) are examined.BackgroundFoster placement creates a highly vulnerable situation within families of origin. Moreover, birth parents are liable to have been exposed to multiple risk factors. Foster placement comes with many challenges that are not without consequences on the parenting experience, including loss of parenting responsibilities and redefinition of the parenting role.MethodParents (n = 59) participated for 70 parent–child dyads in 90‐minute home visits where data on sociodemographic characteristics, mental health status, experience of the placement measure and parent–child contact, as well as level of parental commitment were gathered.ResultsThree‐step hierarchical regression models were used to examine the independent contribution of the parent's perception of the foster parent's opinion on contact on parental commitment after accounting for the birth parent's mental health and placement characteristics. Results suggest that parent–child contact and parent's perception of foster parent's opinion on contact have a significant contribution to parental commitment.ConclusionThese findings underscore the importance of addressing parenthood in placement situations and the relevance of examining parental commitment from a systemic perspective.ImplicationsA deeper understanding of this vulnerable population would require reflecting on the psychosocial practices in Child Protective Services while accounting for the needs of birth parents in the placement system.

Examining the mental health indicators and service needs of children living with foster families

There is a paucity of recent research examining the mental health needs of treatment-seeking foster children and youth within the Canadian context. The present data utilized 101,182 archived assessments from the comprehensive interRAI data set to examine the mental health indicators and service needs of children living with foster families who are seeking mental health services. It was predicted that children living with foster families (compared to non-foster children) would demonstrate higher acuity levels across mental health indicators and greater service care requirements. Results indicated that children living with foster families experienced significantly greater trauma (across domains), externalizing symptoms, risky or problematic sexual behaviour, greater service urgency, and resource intensity requirements, compared to clinically referred children who were not in foster families. A strong, positive relationship was found between the number of trauma types experienced and foster placement, with foster children seven times more likely to experience four types of trauma. Clinical implications stress the importance of trauma-informed interventions, given the specific needs of foster children, including the high acuity and intensity of service needs.

Treatment of Native Youth Requires Incorporating Culture, Recognizing Trauma

Treatment of Native Youth Requires Incorporating Culture, Recognizing Trauma

Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services Use Differ Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children by Initial Foster Care Entry Status

Most children in foster care have poor health outcomes and high health care utilization. Health complexity influences health care utilization as well foster care placement. Health care utilization studies among children in foster care have not accounted for health complexity status and foster placement. A 7-year retrospective study linked Colorado child welfare and Medicaid administrative data for 30,164 Medicaid-enrolled children, up to 23 years old, who differed by initial foster care entry, to examine primary care and behavioral health (BH) utilization patterns from 2014 to 2021. Children entering care were matched with replacement to non-foster peers by age, sex, Medicaid enrollment patterns, managed care status, family income, and health complexity. We calculated weighted monthly average percentages of children with primary care and BH utilization by foster care entry, health complexity, sex, and age over 25 months relative to the month of foster care entry for the foster cohort or the reference month for non-foster peers. Children in the foster cohort had lower primary care but higher BH utilization relative to non-foster peers prior to the reference month. Primary care and BH use increased among children in foster care during and 12 months after the reference month, unlike matched comparisons. Primary care and BH utilization increased by health complexity but differed by foster care status and time. Foster care entry and health complexity produced distinct patterns of primary care and BH utilization. Given higher utilization among children in foster care, future investigation should explore health care quality and delivery factors.

Exploring the experiences of foster and kinship carers in Australia regarding the oral healthcare of children living in out-of-home care

Foster and kinship carers play an integral part in establishing oral health promoting behaviours and managing the oral health issues of children in out-of-home care (OOHC). This study aimed to explore the knowledge, experiences and support needs of Australian foster and kinship carers in maintaining the oral health of children living in OOHC, using semi-structured interviews with eight purposively sampled carers. Results showed that the participants understood the importance of good oral health for general well-being and were motivated to implement good oral hygiene practices with the children in their care. The challenges encountered by foster and kinship carers included: a lack of information from foster care agencies regarding the oral health needs of children; difficulty in the pre-approval processes for dental treatment; and poor communication between carers and foster care agencies. Systemic challenges included: transience and frequent changes in the child’s foster placement; long waiting lists for dental treatment; and lack of dental professionals. We conclude that foster and kinship carers need support to promote the oral health of children in OOHC and that systemic barriers must be identified and addressed.

Developmental research on practical models and manuals for foster parent support specialists

In addition to being a researcher, Dr Keiji Noguchi is a foster parent and so understands the importance of a support model to prevent disruption of foster children placement. Noguchi, Faculty of Education, Fukuyama City University, Japan, is leading a project focused on developmental research on practical models and manuals for foster parent support specialists. This builds on previous research from Osaka Prefecture University and seeks to show how best to support foster parents and prevent disruption. To achieve this goal, Noguchi is developing practical models and manuals to support foster parents. A key focus is on the role of specialists who are assigned to Residential Care Institutions for Children (RCIC). Noguchi believes these Institutions and foster parents both play an important role in the success of foster parenting but it is important to find an effective means to better understand the current situation regarding the support that foster parents receive from institutions, decipher what works and what doesn’t and develop recommendations in line with this. The most important aspect of this work is ensuring that the needs of foster children are realised and fulfilled and so their input is invaluable. Foster parents also need to be considered as if the needs of foster parents are being met it is more likely that the needs of foster children are, in turn, being met. As such, Noguchi and the team are conducting an interview survey on foster parent support for foster parents and professionals in RCIC that support foster parent care and have collected valuable data that has enabled them to create a manual for foster parent care support called the Foster Parent Programme.

Using the Theory of Family Boundary Ambiguity and Ambiguous Loss to Understand the Experiences of Foster Carers’ Own Children

Abstract In England, nearly three-quarters of looked after children are cared for in foster families. Despite this, relatively little is known about the experiences of foster carers’ children in families who foster. This study used narrative interviews to explore the experiences of twelve adults now aged eighteen to fifty-four years who had been brought up in such families. Their families had fostered for much or all of their childhood and growing up in a fostering family had had a considerable impact on them. Most participants viewed some of the fostered children as siblings and continued to do so into adulthood. The analysis used the theory of family boundary ambiguity and ambiguous loss to gain a deeper understanding of the participants’ experiences. The findings suggest that there is a need for much greater awareness of the issues that foster carers’ own children face. They also suggest that a change in how foster placements are supported needs to include a greater focus on the children of foster carers.