IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v113y2020ics0190740919314227.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Support needs and satisfaction of Flemish foster parents in long-term foster care: Associated characteristics of foster children, foster parents and foster placements

Author

Listed:
  • Vanderfaeillie, Johan
  • Gypen, Laura
  • West, Delphine
  • Van Holen, Frank

Abstract

In Flanders, family foster care is increasingly the option of choice when out-of-home care is needed. However, foster care is a complex and challenging intervention and meeting all expectations by foster parents is frequently hampered by the severity of the mental health problems of foster children and conflicts with birth parents. Moreover, these problems result in high support needs and low satisfaction of foster carers, ultimately leading to placement disruption. This study aims at identifying characteristics of foster children, foster parents and foster placements associated with low satisfaction and high support needs. Support needs and satisfaction from 1216 Flemish foster parents were mapped with the Support Needs and Satisfaction Questionnaire–Foster Parents. Foster parents had rather limited support needs and high satisfaction scores. More behavioural problems of the foster child and shorter time between two visits was associated with more support needs regarding dealing with the birth parents and with support needs regarding parenting the foster child. More behavioural problems of the foster child, less non-professional support and non-kinship care were associated with lower satisfaction. As breakdown and discontinued fostering are linked to dissatisfaction and lack of support, foster placements of children with more behavioural problems, with non-kinship parents and with foster parents with less non-professional support should be considered at-risk placements needing intensive support.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Gypen, Laura & West, Delphine & Van Holen, Frank, 2020. "Support needs and satisfaction of Flemish foster parents in long-term foster care: Associated characteristics of foster children, foster parents and foster placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:113:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919314227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104990
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740919314227
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104990?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Van Holen, Frank & Geys, Lynn & West, Delphine & Gypen, Laura & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2019. "Characteristics of successful foster families according to Flemish foster care workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Orme, John G. & Buehler, Cheryl & McSurdy, Michael & Rhodes, Kathryn W. & Ellen Cox, Mary & Patterson, David A., 2004. "Parental and familial characteristics of family foster care applicants," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 307-329, March.
    3. Peters, Jay, 2005. "True ambivalence: Child welfare workers' thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about kinship foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(6), pages 595-614, June.
    4. Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Strickler, Amy & Triplett, Dawn R. & Trunzo, Annette C., 2016. "Treatment foster parent satisfaction: Survey validation and predictors of satisfaction, retention, and intent to refer," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 105-110.
    5. McKeough, A & Bear, K & Jones, C & Thompson, D & Kelly, PJ & Campbell, LE, 2017. "Foster carer stress and satisfaction: An investigation of organisational, psychological and placement factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 10-19.
    6. Lloyd, E. Christopher & Barth, Richard P., 2011. "Developmental outcomes after five years for foster children returned home, remaining in care, or adopted," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1383-1391, August.
    7. Cooley, Morgan E. & Petren, Raymond E., 2011. "Foster parent perceptions of competency: Implications for foster parent training," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1968-1974, October.
    8. Dorsey, Shannon & Farmer, Elizabeth M.Z. & Barth, Richard P. & Greene, Kaylin M. & Reid, John & Landsverk, John, 2008. "Current status and evidence base of training for foster and treatment foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(12), pages 1403-1416, December.
    9. Daniel, Ellice, 2011. "Gentle iron will: Foster parents' perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 910-917, June.
    10. Ivanova, Viktoria & Brown, Jason, 2010. "Support needs of Aboriginal foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 1796-1802, December.
    11. Whenan, Rachel & Oxlad, Melissa & Lushington, Kurt, 2009. "Factors associated with foster carer well-being, satisfaction and intention to continue providing out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 752-760, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Borms, Dorien & Teunissen, M.S.L. & Gypen, Laura & Van Holen, Frank, 2023. "Reasons used by Flemish foster care workers in family reunification decision making," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tullberg, Erika & Vaughon, Wendy & Muradwij, Nawal & Kerker, Bonnie D., 2019. "Unpacking “support”: Understanding the complex needs of therapeutic foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Den Abbeele, Stacey & Fiorentino, Giulia & Gypen, Laura & West, Delphine & Van Holen, Frank, 2020. "The role of foster parents’ basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration as predictors of autonomy-supportive parenting and the functioning of foster children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    3. Storer, Heather L. & Barkan, Susan E. & Stenhouse, Linnea L. & Eichenlaub, Caroline & Mallillin, Anastasia & Haggerty, Kevin P., 2014. "In search of connection: The foster youth and caregiver relationship," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 110-117.
    4. Strickler, Amy & Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Celedonia, Karen L., 2018. "Reducing barriers to using data: A learning collaborative approach to leverage collective knowledge about treatment parent satisfaction and retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 300-307.
    5. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2020. "The wellbeing of foster and kin carers: A comparative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Festinger, Trudy & Baker, Amy J.L., 2013. "The quality of evaluations of foster parent training: An empirical review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2147-2153.
    7. Haggerty, Kevin P. & Barkan, Susan E. & Skinner, Martie L. & Hanson, Koren, 2021. "Proximal outcomes of Connecting, an evidence-based, family-focused prevention program for caregivers of adolescents in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    8. Griffiths, Austin & Holderfield-Gaither, Emily & Funge, Simon P. & Warfel, Erin T., 2021. "Satisfaction, willingness, and well-being: Examining the perceptions of a statewide sample of public and private foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    9. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2018. "High stress experienced in the foster and kin carer role: Understanding the complexities of the carer and child in context," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 316-326.
    10. Barkan, Susan E. & Salazar, Amy M. & Estep, Kara & Mattos, Leah M. & Eichenlaub, Caroline & Haggerty, Kevin P., 2014. "Adapting an evidence-based parenting program for child welfare involved teens and their caregivers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 53-61.
    11. Van Holen, Frank & Geys, Lynn & West, Delphine & Gypen, Laura & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2019. "Characteristics of successful foster families according to Flemish foster care workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    12. Mehta, Nirav & Baker, Amy J.L. & Chong, Jeannette, 2013. "Training foster parents in loyalty conflict: A training evaluation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 75-81.
    13. Elisa Mancinelli & Gaia Dell’Arciprete & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "A Systematic Review on Foster Parents’ Psychological Adjustment and Parenting Style—An Evaluation of Foster Parents and Foster Children Variables," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-25, October.
    14. Cooley, Morgan E. & Thompson, Heather M. & Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson, 2017. "Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 35-41.
    15. Marinescu, Ioana & Tan, Fei & Greeson, Johanna K.P., 2023. "Economic conditions and the number of children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    16. Williams, Kimberly A. & Lewis, Ericka M. & Feely, Megan, 2023. "Stay just a little bit longer: A scoping review of foster parent engagement in the U.S," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    17. Patterson, Debra & Day, Angelique & Vanderwill, Lori & Willis, Tamarie & Resko, Stella & Henneman, Kris & Cohick, Sue, 2018. "Identifying the essential competencies for resource parents to promote permanency and well-being of adolescents in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 457-466.
    18. Brown, Jason D. & Ivanova, Viktoria & Mehta, Nisha & Skrodzki, Donna & Gerrits, Julie, 2013. "Social needs of aboriginal foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 1886-1893.
    19. Brown, Jason D. & George, Natalie & Sintzel, Jennifer & St. Arnault, David, 2009. "Benefits of cultural matching in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 1019-1024, September.
    20. Findley, Erin & Praetorius, Regina T., 2023. "Points of foster parent stress in the system: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:113:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919314227. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.