Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-2000

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Social Work

Major Professor

Catherine A. Faver

Committee Members

John Ohmle, Cheryl Buellen, Cls. Duyten

Abstract

In addition to a shortage of foster homes,the unwillingness of many licensed fosterparents to accept the growing number of hard to place foster children has jeopardized the quality of care provided to children in state custody.The purpose of this study was to determine the number of foster family applicants willing to foster different types of hard to place children and the types of foster families willing to foster such children.Resource theory guided this study. Data were collected from 153 foster family applicants during preservice training. The following foster parent resources were measured: income,education, race, marital status, parenting experience,fostering experience, employed in a helping profession, employed less than full-time, social support, and belonging to a place of worship. Willingness to accept the following types of hard to place children also was measured: emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children, sibling groups, children regardless of gender, physically abused children,deprived children, and sexually abused children.Results indicated high levels of acceptance of hard to place children. Seventy-one percent of foster families would accept sibling groups and a foster child regardless of gender. With the exception of children who set fires, over two-thirds of all families were at least willing to discuss accepting children with various types of emotional or behavioral problems.Regression analyses revealed that total resources predicted willingness to accept emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children, children regardless of gender, deprived children, and physically abused children. Regression analyses also were used to identify foster parent characteristics that predicted willingness to foster hard to place children.White foster parent applicants were more willing to accept emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children than non-white applicants. Foster parent applicants who belonged to a place of worship were more willing to accept deprived, physically abused,and sexuallyabused children. Foster parent applicants with previous fostering experience were more willing to accept emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children. In addition, those who are willing to foster hard to place children were more likely to have a foster child placed in their home.The findings of this study and other willingness studies can be used in targeted recruitment efforts and can inform agency programs and policies regarding foster parent support and training. Additionally, willingness data can be used to more appropriately match foster children with foster parents.

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