Foster Parents' Perceptions of Factors Neededfor Successful Foster Placements

摘要

The purpose of the study was to describe the needs of foster parents forplacement success. Sixty-three foster parents from a central Canadian province wereasked the following question: "What do you need for a successful foster place-ment"? Foster parents grouped together all responses, which were analyzed usingmultidimensional scaling and cluster analysis procedures. Foster parents indicatedthat they needed the right personality and skills, information about the foster child, agood relationship with the fostering agency, individualized services, communitysupport, linkages to other foster families, supportive immediate and extendedfamilies, as well as self-care skills. There were some differences between theexisting literature and the needs identified by study participants. Differencesincluded the need for information about policies and procedures, their treatment byprofessionals, and the need for formal foster parent organizations.