Faith-based partnerships and foster parent satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Child welfare services
• Family recruitment strategies
• Community-based support systems

Background:

• Chronic shortage of foster and adoptive families in the U.S.
• High dropout rates during the family licensure process due to frustration and lack of support.
• Need for innovative recruitment and retention strategies within the child welfare system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two faith-based partnerships in recruiting and supporting prospective foster and adoptive families.
• To compare participant satisfaction with the licensure process in faith-based programs versus a national sample.
• To determine if faith-based initiatives can enhance capacity in the child welfare system.

Main Methods:

• Study of two faith-based partnerships that recruit families from churches.
• Provision of training and ongoing support throughout the licensure process.
• Comparison of survey data from program participants with a national sample of foster parents.

Main Results:

• Participants in faith-based programs reported significantly higher satisfaction with the family licensure process.
• Faith-based partnerships demonstrated success in retaining families throughout the process.
• Evidence suggests these programs can alleviate burdens on the child welfare system.

Conclusions:

• Faith-based partnerships are a promising model for increasing the number of licensed foster and adoptive families.
• Targeted support and recruitment through community organizations can improve the family experience.
• These initiatives offer a scalable solution to address the national shortage of foster and adoptive families.