The purpose of this study is to identify satisfaction levels and retention intention of Chinese foster parents in Hong Kong. Foster parents are one of the major caregivers of children in out-of-home care services. However, in recent years, there has been a decreasing number of foster parents. The aim of the study is to discover what aspects foster parents value in fostering, and in what way they perceive value fulfillment through fostering and what their wants are. Finally, the relationship between foster parenthood satisfaction and foster parent retention is examined. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are applied in this study. The quantitative research data was collected with the aid of a questionnaire. 666 questionnaires were sent out to current foster parents giving Ordinary Foster Care service and 150 questionnaires were sent to deregistered foster parents who had quit since 2009; and these questionnaires were sent out through the Social Welfare Department of Hong Kong SAR Government. 200 responses were received from the former and 15 from the latter. The response rate was 30.03%and 10%respectively. The qualitative research data comprised13 in-depth interviews with three current foster parents joining the service in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s respectively, along with13 deregistered foster parents from 10 families. The results from analyzing questionnaire data collected from the current foster parents reveal that foster parent retention can be explained through foster parenthood satisfaction (.839). It is found that foster parenthood satisfaction can be explained by foster parents’ perception regarding what they gained as they went through fostering (.513). The results indicate that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to foster parenthood satisfaction. The in-depth interviews reveal that foster parents are happy when they can see positive changes and development in children under their care. All 16 interviewed respondents stated that foster care worker support was important to them, particularly to those looking after special needs children. The author recommends that foster care agencies review their practices and find ways to facilitate foster parents to achieve what they value. It is recommended that the foster home ownership system be evaluated so that foster care agencies can try to build up a stable relationship with foster parents to strengthen their support. It is also recommended that the need for developing different types of foster care apart from ordinary service be reviewed as a method of relieving foster parent shortage. In addition, further research is recommended to be carried out into understanding the different wants of foster parents at different stages of their fostering experience. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

by Leung Tung So Mei, Emily. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Bibliography: leaves 208-214.

by Lee Yuk Ying. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves 151-158. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- The concept of divorce and marital separation --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Emotional reactions of single parents at different phases of separation and divorce --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Problems of single parenthood --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4 --- The differences between single fathers and single mothers in soliciting support --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5 --- Concept of mental health --- p.21 / Chapter 2.6 --- Concept of stress --- p.27 / Chapter 2.7 --- Concept of social support --- p.33 / Chapter 3. --- Conceptua1 Framework / Chapter 3.1 --- "Relations between mental health, stress and socia1 support" --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research questions and hypotheses --- p.48 / Chapter 4. --- Research Methodology --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1 --- Design / Chapter 4.2 --- Samples / Chapter 4.3 --- Instruments used / Chapter 4.4 --- Procedures / Chapter 4.5 --- Data ana 1ysis / Chapter 5. --- Findings --Genera 1 Profi1e of the respondents --- p.57 / Chapter 6. --- Findings -- Stress and Mental Health conditions of the respondents --- p.72 / Chapter 7. --- Findings -- Perceived social support of the respondents --- p.82 / Chapter 8. --- "Findings-- Relations between stress, mental hea1th and social support" --- p.117 / Chapter 9. --- "Findings --Relationships between sex, stage of separation and stress, mental hea1th, social support" --- p.127 / Chapter 10. --- Conclusions --- p.135 / Chapter 11. --- Recommendations --- p.144 / Bibliography --- p.151 / Chapter Appendix A --- Questionnaire --- p.159 / Chapter Appendix B --- Questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.187

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

by Kwong Sau Hung, Sandy. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-122). / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.4 / The Concept of Foster Care Service --- p.4 / Foster Care Service in Hong Kong --- p.7 / Local Studies on Foster Care Service --- p.15 / The Importance of Stable Foster Care Placement --- p.17 / Studies on Stable Foster Care Placement --- p.20 / Role Problems in Foster Care --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Conceptual Framework --- p.33 / Role Theory --- p.33 / Theoretical Framework --- p.36 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Research Methodology --- p.40 / Research Questions --- p.41 / Definition and Measurement of Variables --- p.41 / Structure of Questionnaire --- p.46 / Study Design --- p.47 / Subject --- p.48 / Data Analysis --- p.48 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Results --- p.49 / Demographic Characteristics --- p.49 / Motivations and Fostering Experience --- p.56 / Psychometric Properties of Measurement --- p.61 / Measures of Major Variables --- p.62 / Relationship between Variables --- p.75 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Discussion --- p.82 / Demographic Characteristics --- p.82 / Motivations and Fostering Experience --- p.84 / Major Variables --- p.87 / Relationship between Variables --- p.97 / Limitations of the Study --- p.101 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.103 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Recommendations --- p.106 / Implication for Social Work Practice --- p.106 / Implication for Research --- p.112 / Bibliography --- p.114 / Appendix A Items Measuring Major Variables --- p.123 / Appendix B Questionnaire (Chinese Version) --- p.128 / Appendix C Questionnaire (English Version) --- p.137 / Appendix D Results of Open Ended Questions --- p.146

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Speech and Hearing Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work