IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v118y2020ics0190740920307921.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

False allegations and caseworker conflict: Stressors among long-term foster parents

Author

Listed:
  • Nesmith, Ande

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the wisdom and expertise of 19 foster parents who averaged 20 years of fostering experience to learn their most formidable challenges while interacting with the child welfare system as well as sources of support. Phenomenological methods revealed patterns in foster parents’ shared experiences. Findings revealed two significant stressors linked to decision-making: 1) feeling disempowered and undervalued by child protection workers, and 2) coping with false allegations and the investigation process. System-level configuration of roles and power placed stakeholders in an adversarial rather than collaborative position. Their licensing social workers and other long-term foster parents were the strongest sources of support. Findings suggest that stressors may be alleviated with an inclusive and collaborative approach toward decision-making about child placement decisions, recurring trainings on the allegation process, assigning a support social worker during investigations, and cultivating an ongoing supportive community among foster parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Nesmith, Ande, 2020. "False allegations and caseworker conflict: Stressors among long-term foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:118:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920307921
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105435
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740920307921
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105435?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. Oosterman, Mirjam & Schuengel, Carlo & Wim Slot, N. & Bullens, Ruud A.R. & Doreleijers, Theo A.H., 2007. "Disruptions in foster care: A review and meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 53-76, January.
    2. Gibbs, Deborah & Wildfire, Judith, 2007. "Length of service for foster parents: Using administrative data to understand retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 588-599, May.
    3. Ahn, Haksoon & Greeno, Elizabeth J. & Bright, Charlotte Lyn & Hartzel, Samantha & Reiman, Sarah, 2017. "A survival analysis of the length of foster parenting duration and implications for recruitment and retention of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 478-484.
    4. Cherry, Donna J. & Orme, John G., 2019. "Vital Few and Useful Many foster families from start to finish," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 172-180.
    5. Nesmith, Ande, 2017. "Coping with change: Using the Bridge's Transitions Framework with foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 41-47.
    6. 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.
    7. Denlinger, Melissa & Dorius, Cassandra, 2018. "Communication patterns between foster parents and case managers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 329-339.
    8. Jay Miller, J. & Benner, Kalea & Pope, Natalie & Dumas, Tamikia & Damron, Larry J. & Segress, Melissa & Slone, Melissa & Thrasher, Shawndaya & Niu, Chunling, 2017. "Conceptualizing effective foster parent mentor programs: A participatory planning process," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 411-418.
    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. 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).

    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. Dowdy-Hazlett, Taylor & Clark, Shelby L., 2024. "Latent profile analysis of risk and protective factors among foster parents: A cross-sectional study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. 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).
    3. 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).
    4. 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.
    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. 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).
    7. Cooley, Morgan E. & Womack, Bethany & Rush, Jacqueline & Slinskey, Kristie, 2020. "Adverse childhood experiences among foster parents: Prevalence and association with resilience, coping, satisfaction as a foster parent, and intent to continue fostering," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    8. Orme, John G. & Cherry, Donna J. & Brown, Jason D., 2017. "Against all odds: Vital Few foster families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 584-593.
    9. Pope, Natalie D. & Jay Miller, J. & Benner, Kalea, 2020. "Cultivating resilience in new foster parents through mentoring: A dyadic analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    10. Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Gyourko, John & Ortiz, Andrew J. & Coleman, Durell & Cancel, Sixto, 2021. "“One hundred and ninety-four got licensed by Monday”: Application of design thinking for foster care innovation and transformation in Rhode Island," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    11. Davi, Nicole & Jones, Jennifer & Gillen, Martie, 2021. "An exploration of the motivations and barriers to being a foster parent in Florida," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    12. Cox, Mary Ellen & Cherry, Donna J. & Orme, John G., 2011. "Measuring the willingness to foster children with emotional and behavioral problems," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 59-65, January.
    13. Cooley, Morgan E. & Newquist, Jennifer & Thompson, Heather M. & Colvin, Marianna L., 2019. "A systematic review of foster parent preservice training," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    14. Vanschoonlandt, Femke & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Holen, Frank & De Maeyer, Skrällan & Robberechts, Marijke, 2013. "Externalizing problems in young foster children: Prevalence rates, predictors and service use," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 716-724.
    15. Tregeagle, Susan & Cox, Elizabeth & Forbes, Catherine & Humphreys, Cathy & O'Neill, Cas, 2011. "Worker time and the cost of stability," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1149-1158, July.
    16. Kang, Hyunah & Woo, Seokjin & Chun, JongSerl & Nho, Choog Rai & Chung, Ick-Joong, 2017. "Developmental outcomes among Korean adolescents in out-of-home care: A longitudinal study comparing kinship foster care and institutional care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 118-124.
    17. Sim, Faye & Li, Dongdong & Chu, Chi Meng, 2016. "The moderating effect between strengths and placement on children's needs in out-of-home care: A follow-up study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 101-108.
    18. Montserrat, Carme & Llosada-Gistau, Joan & Fuentes-Peláez, Nuria, 2020. "Child, family and system variables associated to breakdowns in family foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    19. Nesmith, Ande, 2017. "Coping with change: Using the Bridge's Transitions Framework with foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 41-47.
    20. Miller, J. Jay & Koh, Eun & Niu, Chunling & Bode, Molly & Moody, Shannon, 2019. "Examining child trauma knowledge among kin caregivers: Implications for practice, policy, and research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 112-118.

    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:118:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920307921. 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.