Family Foster Care FFC and Therapeutic Foster Care TFC Parents' Motivation, Stress and Satisfaction

1
Family Foster Care (FFC) and Therapeutic Foster
Care (TFC) Parents' Motivation, Stress and
Satisfaction with Fostering
Michael Brand, Ph.D. David Bard, Ph.D. Keri
Pierce, MSW., MPH. The University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center
2
Abstract

• Most states in the United States are experiencing
  an increasing demand for foster care homes. As
  the need for foster homes is increasing the needs
  of children being place in foster care is
  becoming more complex. This combination of
  factors places greater demands on foster parents.
  Between 2000 and 2001 the Oklahoma Foster Family
  Survey (OFFS) was conducted to assess the
  circumstances and needs of foster parents and
  children. The analysis of this study compares FFC
  and TFC parents motivation for fostering, stress
  and satisfaction with fostering. The study
  provides useful insights into the relationships
  between satisfaction, stress and satisfaction
  with fostering.

3
Background

• A some studies have asked why people become
  foster parents and assessed parents motivation
  for becoming foster parents. Fewer studies have
  investigated the relationship between motivation,
  stress and satisfaction with foster parenting.
  The Casey Foundation conducted a study of its
  foster parents and found that the primary
  motivating factors for becoming a foster parent
  were wanting to help less fortunate children and
  liking children. Other reasons included wanting
  to do something that was needed, wanting to give
  a child love, a secure and stable home, and
  having the ability to help children. Other
  studies have found similar findings, suggesting
  that a major motivation for becoming a foster
  parent is the satisfaction and sense of
  accomplishment they receive from giving to a
  child (Proch Taber, 1985 Ray Horner, 1990).

4
Background

• Dando and Minty (1984) identified three major
  motivations for becoming a foster parent. The
  first motivator they refer to is ideological,
  which is similar to the findings of other
  researchers (Casey, 1994 Proch Tablor Ray
  Horner, 1990 Fine, 1993). Dando and Mintys
  (1984) two additional findings include foster
  parents inability to have children of their own
  and having a personal history of being a deprived
  child. Understanding a parents motivation for
  becoming a foster parent is critically important
  because it is significantly related to issues of
  stress and satisfaction and thus retention as a
  foster parent.

5
Background

• The United States General Accounting Office
  (USGAO, 1993) reports that increasing numbers of
  foster parents are ceasing to provide foster care
  because they do not receive support and positive
  recognition in dealing with the difficulties that
  they face with foster children (p. 288).The Casey
  study (Casey, 1993) highlights the General
  Accounting Offices (1993) conclusions with their
  finding that parents report the most satisfying
  aspects of being a foster parent is watching the
  child change and grow and knowing that they
  contributed to helping a child.

6
Background

• Other factors which influence foster parents
  satisfaction include feeling competent to handle
  the children placed in their home, wanting to
  take-in children who need loving parents, having
  few reservations about being a foster parent, the
  foster mothers age, a good working relationship
  with the agency social worker, and receiving
  approval for a job well done (Denby, Rindfleish,
  Bean, 1999). Fine (1993) echos the need for
  addressing foster parents expectations by
  suggesting that if motivational needs are not met
  then a lack of retention results. If foster
  parents expectations of helping foster children
  improve their lot in life are not at least
  partially met, foster parents may become burned
  out and discontinue fostering children in their
  homes.