Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-130).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-198).

"The purpose of this study was to analyze data collected from a single child welfare unit of a Florida public welfare agency regarding the backgrounds and current problem areas of children under foster care. The analysis of these data was undertaken to determine the frequency of appearance for certain factors in the histories of children in foster care. A judgment was also made regarding the significance of the interrelationships between certain of the variables studied"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "May, 1958." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work." / Advisor: Douglass Brown, Professor Directing Study. / Includes bibliographical references.

Many children drift into unplanned long-term foster home care, under conditions unsatisfactory for the child, his own family and the foster parents. Current practice in foster care often contributes to foster children growing up without the necessary love, support and guidance from a family that he can call his own. Recent publications in social work journals have suggested that a lack of consistent family relationships may be injurious to the emotional development of children. Social workers have become increasingly dissatisfied with a "helping process" that may, in fact, generate more harm than help. Originating from the social worker's dissatisfaction with the foster care system is an awareness that some method for evaluation of parenting potential is a critically important factor if the goal of responsible planning for foster home placement is to be attained. One possible method for evaluating parenting potential is to analyze the parents' history of adaptation through an examination of case record material. The purpose of our study is to determine the feasibility of the case analysis method as a tool for the development of predictive criteria designed to evaluate "potential for parenting" and thus, aid in more adequate foster care planning.

The purpose of this practicum is to determine reasons given by former foster parents for their termination of provision of foster care. Research was completed through a survey of the literature in the field of roster care and through inquiries with personnel currently working with foster care programs in Columbia and Multnomah Counties. Utilizing the concerns of the personnel and issues raised in the literature, a questionnaire was developed which was intended specifically for former roster families currently residing in Columbia County. 48.9 percent of the questionnaires were returned. The results showed that fifty percent of the foster families who responded terminated their provision of foster care within two years, with an additional twenty three percent terminating within two more years, making a total of seventy-three percent who discontinued foster care within four years. Sixty-one percent listed "no longer interested" as a reason for terminating. This category included the foster family's own children's reactions; foster child related concerns such as age, sex, and behavior problems, and situational factors such a s recreational limitations, work, or school changes. An area of concern in this study was the relationship of the agency who administers a foster care program and the reasons foster parents give for discontinuing foster care. The data gathered shows that seventy-four percent of these former foster families rated their contact with Columbia County Children's Services Division as either "okay" or "good".

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Erlangen.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Thesis dated May 2008, graduation date May 2009, posted to the web 2009. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Southern California, 1963. / Microfilm copy (positive) of typescript. Bibliography: p. 335-355.

M.A. / South Africa is facing a high proportion of children in need of care due to the high escalation of HIV/AIDS related illness. Most of the orphaned children are left with either paternal or maternal families. As a result the families are facing challenges to perform “social, emotional, and educational tasks” and to cope with the additional family members. The study was exploratory and aimed to explore the challenges faced by foster parents, and their coping strategies in Johannesburg. The targeted area was Hillbrow. Twelve foster parents namely, three child-headed, three single parents, three in marital relationship and three grandparents headed families were selected from the researcher’s caseload. The goal of the study was to explore the challenges foster parents are experiencing in relation to foster children and to raise awareness of the social services providers concerning these challenges in order for them to take it into account in the planning of programmes or strategies that will assist with the coping mechanisms. The researcher has conducted a literature study on the tasks and responsibilities of foster parents; criteria on selecting foster parents and the demands made on foster parents. Semi-structured interviews were utilised as a data collection method. The interviewees responded in African languages and data was translated to English. The findings from the study were as follows: • Some of the foster parents have a challenge of accommodation in Hillbrow since this area is characterised by overpopulation. For example, they share one bedroomed flat as different families, and they have no privacy. • Some of the children are left in the care of their grandparents who are pensioners. Even though they receive foster care grants to supplement their income, they still unable to meet the teenagers’ needs. • Children react differently after the death of their parents and the following reactions were reported: lack of interest in their studies, crying, and difficulties to adapt to a new environment, withdrawal, attention seeking and anger. • Most of the foster parents are receiving support from the family members while some families are sources of conflict, especially when it comes to Foster Care Grants. • Foster parents have their own different ways of coping with foster care placement such as communication, family support, religion, working hand in hand with the professionals and foster care grants. Conclusions in this study indicated that: • The Department of Social Development should network with the Department of housing to give a priority of providing foster parents with Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. • Workshop Programmes and Support Groups for Foster parents should be established.