A better understanding of kinship foster families' perceptions of the familial factors and parenting beliefs that promote or inhibit successful fostering can inform child welfare practice and policy. To this end, and to extend previous research [Buehler, C., Cox, M. E., and Cuddeback, G. (2003). Foster parents' perceptions of factors that promote or inhibit successful fostering. Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 2(1), 61-84.], semi-structured interviews were conducted with kinship foster parents to explore their perceptions with regard to the familial factors and parenting beliefs that promote or inhibit successful fostering. Nine kinship foster parents from 8 families were interviewed. The results of this study were compared to the results of the Buehler et al. [Buehler, C., Cox, M. E., and Cuddeback, G. (2003). Foster parents' perceptions of factors that promote or inhibit successful fostering. Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 2(1), 61-84.] study on nonkinship foster parents. Similar themes emerged from both groups, but kinship foster parents described more complex issues with their families- of-origin. Characteristics that promote successful fostering of kin include support of family, commitment to children, faith, good parenting abilities, church involvement, flexibility, and adequate resources. Characteristics that inhibit successful fostering of kin include strained relations with birth family, poor discipline strategies, inability to deal with "the system," lack of resources, and inability to deal with children's emotional, behavioral, physical problems. The findings suggest a need to focus on special training and support services for kinship foster parents, as well as assessments specific to kinship fostering.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2999-01-01

Följande uppsats syftade till att undersöka hur en standardiserad bedömningsmetod för rekrytering av familjehem (BRA-fam) implementerats utifrån ett urval av de kommuner som deltog i Socialstyrelsens pilotstudie (bilaga 1). Även sambandet mellan delaktighet och tillfredsställelse med implementering och förhållandet mellan forskning, profession och brukare undersöktes. Empirin har samlats in kvantitativt genom telefonintervjuer baserade på strukturerade enkäter. 46 kommuner som ingick i pilotstudien kontaktades, varav 30 familjehemsutredare besvarade frågorna (bilaga 2). Svaren har därefter redovisats och tolkats i form av tabeller och i text. Resultaten som analyserats och relaterats till teorier visar att utredning med BRA-fam-metoden upplevdes ha hög validitet och reliabilitet. Dock fanns svagheter i resultatet avseende delaktigheten i både metodval och implementering av metoden vilket kan bero på för få deltagare i undersökningen.Sammanfattningsvis framkom behov av att utvärdera rekryteringsmetoder inom familjehemsvården då implementering och användningen av metoden skiljer sig åt.Kommunerna har inte implementerat BRA-fam i sin helhet utifrån Socialstyrelsens rekommendationer. Användandet av metoden kan även skilja sig mellan såväl kommuner som privata aktörer. Förslag på förbättringsåtgärder och utvecklingsområden avseende implementering av metoder redovisas under rubrik Diskussioner och slutsatser.Ytterligare förslag ges för att närma sig en evidensbaserad, likvärdig och enhetlig rekryterings-metod inom familjehemsvården i Sverige. Detta för att om möjligt stödja, stärka och främja relationen mellan forskning, profession och brukare framöver och för att kunna möta de förändringar och utmaningar som ett samhälle utsätts och bär ansvar för. / The following essay purpose was to examine how a standardized assessment method for recruitment of foster homes (BRA-fam) implemented on a selection of the municipalities that participated in the National Board of Health and Welfare´s pilot study (appendix 1). The connection between participation and satisfaction with the implementation and the relationship between research, professionals and foster care system were also examined. Empirical data was gathered through quantity telephone interviews based on structured questionnaires. 46 municipalities who participated in the pilot study were contacted, of which 30 foster investigators answered the questions (appendix 2). The answers are then interpreted and reported in the form of tables and in the text. The results were analyzed and related to theories shows that investigation with BRA-fam method was perceived to have high validity and reliability. However, there were weaknesses concerning participation in both the methodology and implementation of this but might be consequences due to few participants.In summary, it emerged the need to evaluate the recruitment methods in practices within the foster home system and BRA-fam because the implementation and use of the method may differ. The municipalities have not implemented BRA-fam in its entirely based on the National Board of Health and Welfare recommendations. The use of the method differs between both municipalities and private operators. Suggestions for improvement and developmental areas regarding implementation of methods are presented in Discussion and conclusions.Further suggestions are given for approaching an evidence based, equitable and consistent recruitment method in foster care in Sweden. To support, strengthen and promote the relationship between research, professionals and social service users in the future and to meet the changes and challenges that a society is exposed to and responsible.

ABSTRACT This is a comprehensive study of youth in the foster care system. It examines perceptual experiences of the youth before, during, and after transitioning to independent living. Additionally, it delineates their exposure to employment, education, mentors, and counseling programs. Furthermore, it renders social work practitioners with insight on the tensions and challenges transitioning youth face before and after conversion, as well as available programs to assist the youth throughout the transitioning phase – specifically, programs that: Pursue educational and vocational opportunities; Build supportive relationships and connections; Assist with finding and maintaining employment; Teach money management skills; Assist with securing housing; Help maintain health and wellness; and, Develop additional life skills. This study highlights the future of transitioning youth and the types of assistance needed to help them age‑out of foster care gracefully and live productive lives. The factors herein are not only critical, but meticulously evaluated and considered top priority during the collection of data for purposes of this research.

This research focuses on exploring foster girls’ perceptions of respect in relationships in a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) context. The study was undertaken within the paradigm of positive psychology. Relational well-being is of key importance for all adolescents from all cultures and contexts. Respect is viewed as a dynamic aspect of relational functioning. However, when adolescent foster girls do not experience respectful interactions with CYCC caregivers, health workers and with peers, their healthy development could be seriously affected. There is a scarcity of information available on foster girls’ perceptions of respect, with particular reference to the dynamics of respect within a CYCC context. Therefore, the study endeavours to highlight the importance of a bottom-up approach by investigating foster girls’ perceptions of respect. The qualitative study was conducted by using a phenomenological design. For the purpose, aim and coverage of this empirical study a homogenous sample was selected. Twenty female occupants from a South African CYCC were selected, with ages ranging from 12 to 16 years. The participants were all African adolescents, and the study was carried out on the CYCC premises. This homogenous sample allowed detailed investigation of social processes in this context. Data was collected by means of a world café technique where all twenty participants took part to tap into their collective wisdom. Individual interviews were also used and six participants were selected from the original group. All requirements regarding ethical concerns were followed in the research process. Thematic analyses were undertaken after the group and individual sessions. The findings are presented as four main themes, namely relating and respectful interacting (relationships), the role of emotions, resilience and the role of gender. It has been determined that respectful interacting promotes positive support and encouragement during bad times, as well as sharing concerns and ideas with peers and positive role-models. The role of fluctuating emotions – both positive and negative ─ emerged as being of major importance in the girls’ lives. These included pride, belonging, trust (or lack thereof), happiness, hopelessness, aggression / anger and a sense of shame and disappointment with failures. The theme of resilience covered effective coping and how the girls resist languishing and strive to better themselves despite their adverse circumstances. The final theme is that of gender role, which addresses the various forms of differentiation, especially in the treatment of girls and boys. Recommendations are given in order to ameliorate the girls’ lives and to shape future research that could explore the instruction of life skills in order to develop self-esteem, interpersonal relationships (showing respect for one another), a sense of worth and tolerance within a CYCC context purposefully. A possible limitation of this study could be the various Western models of well-being that were studied by the researcher while the participants came from various African cultural backgrounds with different perspectives on Ubuntu. The specific context of foster girls is, therefore, of crucial importance to their wellness, seeing that the context could harbour enabling or limiting conditions for these adolescents. / MSc (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This research focuses on exploring foster girls’ perceptions of respect in relationships in a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) context. The study was undertaken within the paradigm of positive psychology. Relational well-being is of key importance for all adolescents from all cultures and contexts. Respect is viewed as a dynamic aspect of relational functioning. However, when adolescent foster girls do not experience respectful interactions with CYCC caregivers, health workers and with peers, their healthy development could be seriously affected. There is a scarcity of information available on foster girls’ perceptions of respect, with particular reference to the dynamics of respect within a CYCC context. Therefore, the study endeavours to highlight the importance of a bottom-up approach by investigating foster girls’ perceptions of respect. The qualitative study was conducted by using a phenomenological design. For the purpose, aim and coverage of this empirical study a homogenous sample was selected. Twenty female occupants from a South African CYCC were selected, with ages ranging from 12 to 16 years. The participants were all African adolescents, and the study was carried out on the CYCC premises. This homogenous sample allowed detailed investigation of social processes in this context. Data was collected by means of a world café technique where all twenty participants took part to tap into their collective wisdom. Individual interviews were also used and six participants were selected from the original group. All requirements regarding ethical concerns were followed in the research process. Thematic analyses were undertaken after the group and individual sessions. The findings are presented as four main themes, namely relating and respectful interacting (relationships), the role of emotions, resilience and the role of gender. It has been determined that respectful interacting promotes positive support and encouragement during bad times, as well as sharing concerns and ideas with peers and positive role-models. The role of fluctuating emotions – both positive and negative ─ emerged as being of major importance in the girls’ lives. These included pride, belonging, trust (or lack thereof), happiness, hopelessness, aggression / anger and a sense of shame and disappointment with failures. The theme of resilience covered effective coping and how the girls resist languishing and strive to better themselves despite their adverse circumstances. The final theme is that of gender role, which addresses the various forms of differentiation, especially in the treatment of girls and boys. Recommendations are given in order to ameliorate the girls’ lives and to shape future research that could explore the instruction of life skills in order to develop self-esteem, interpersonal relationships (showing respect for one another), a sense of worth and tolerance within a CYCC context purposefully. A possible limitation of this study could be the various Western models of well-being that were studied by the researcher while the participants came from various African cultural backgrounds with different perspectives on Ubuntu. The specific context of foster girls is, therefore, of crucial importance to their wellness, seeing that the context could harbour enabling or limiting conditions for these adolescents. / MSc (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Due to competing claims in the literature regarding the relationship between self-esteem and being ‘looked-after’, and the implicated ethical and clinical issues, a systematic review of the literature was carried out. Ten articles met inclusion criteria for review. The majority of studies made a limited contribution to the review due to poor study quality, and the ethical, clinical and research implications of this are discussed. In addition, anecdotal evidence suggests that young people in care do not want to be made to feel different to others but there appears to be an absence of empirical research confirming this. Interviews were carried out with nine 12-16 year olds currently residing in foster care to explore their representations of ‘feeling the same or feeling different’. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) guided how data was analysed, and resulting super-ordinate themes were identified. The research paper reports on one of these themes: ‘difference’, which is explored through four sub-ordinate themes. These relate to participants not wanting others to know they were in care, feeling alienated due to their foster care status, perceiving that others viewed them differently and, at times, noticing differences themselves. Findings are considered in relation to the extant literature on foster care and identity development and practice and research implications are discussed. A second super-ordinate theme: ‘making sense’ is presented in the ‘extended results’ which is explored through five subordinate themes. Representations involved participants making sense of why their birth parents could not care for them, conflicting feelings towards both birth parents and foster parents, and a desire to feel a sense of agency in their lives.

This study gives attention to the effects of instability of placement, emotional disturbances, and at-risk behaviors on the academic performance of adolescents in foster care, specifically males. The purpose of this study was to examine the academic success of male adolescents in foster care and environmental influences that prevent many children from excelling. Data were extracted and analyzed (Chi-Square) from 50 of200 case files (active and discharged). The sample represented male residents (12 to 18 years of age) of a privately run, state licensed residential group home in Georgia. Academic performance was measured by grade point average. Twenty-eight percent did not function on grade level while 72% functioned on grade level. There was no statistical significance between academic achievement and instability of placement (X2= .577, p = .448), emotional disturbances(X2= .759, p = -.348), aggressive/violent behavior (X2= .020, p = .887), and sexual activity (X2=.732, p = .392). However, there was statistical significance found between academic achievement and substance use (X2= 4.095, p = .043). An additional key finding in this study was 74% of the adolescents had a mental health diagnosis but had only been in foster care less than one year. Therefore, additional research should be conducted to determine the preexisting conditions adolescents experience before entering foster care. The findings from this study can perhaps encourage the child welfare community to investigate other variables that may impact the academic achievement of adolescents in foster care.

The Black community within the foster care system has received minimal empirical attention as it pertains to the impact of media intake, caregiver navigation and levels of self-perceptions. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the correlations between these variables. The nonrandom snowball sampling method was used to recruit 18 Black women, who were eighteen years old or older and former foster youth, to participate in a self-administered online survey. The nonparametric test, Spearman's Rho, was chosen to analyze both research questions due to the sample size violating a Pearson's Correlation assumption. The relationship between media intake and levels of self-perceptions had a p value of .394, whereas, the relationship between caregiver navigation and levels of self-perceptions had a p value of .109. Therefore, the findings for research question one revealed that there were no correlations between levels of self-perceptions and media intake. Similarly, research question two identified no significant relationships among the levels of self-perceptions and caregiver navigation. This study highlights the importance for additional research, as Black foster care youth are an underserved population with many unidentified needs; this includes that of parental guidance to heighten self-perceptions and buffer the potentially negative impact of the media.