Related Experiment Videos
Concept mapping the needs of foster parents
This study describes the needs of foster parents as perceived by the foster parents themselves. Forty-nine parents from 30 foster families were asked to describe their needs in response to the question: "What do you need to be a good foster parent?" Five themes were apparent in their answers: (1) good working relationships; (2) cultural sensitivity; (3) harmonious and stable family relationships; (4) adequate payment for services; and (5) a range of personality characteristics and parenting skills. These themes are consistent with the literature, with the notable exception of respite, a need identified in the literature but not by the sampled foster parents. The study results lend credibility to the existing literature on the needs of foster parents.
This study describes the needs of foster parents as perceived by the foster parents themselves. Forty-nine parents from 30 foster families were asked to describe their needs in response to the question: "What do you need to be a good foster parent?" Five themes were apparent in their answers: (1) good working relationships; (2) cultural sensitivity; (3) harmonious and stable family relationships; (4) adequate payment for services; and (5) a range of personality characteristics and parenting skills. These themes are consistent with the literature, with the notable exception of respite, a need identified in the literature but not by the sampled foster parents. The study results lend credibility to the existing literature on the needs of foster parents.