Does Emotional Resilience Enhance Foster Placement Stability? A Qualitative Investigation

Abstract

Frequent changes of foster placement are known to have a detrimental effect on the long-term well-being of cared-for children. Foster carers who take on children with challenging behaviours have to draw on resources, both internal and external, to help them build and maintain a relationship with the child that will last. Not all foster carers are successful in this regard. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the role that the emotional resilience of foster carers plays in promoting placement stability.Seven foster carers, who had a track-record of stable placements (according to national criteria) with children exhibiting challenging behaviours, were recruited from a Local Authority in the North East of England. They attended a focus group and one-to-one interview. Verbatim transcripts were subjected to an inductive grounded theory analysis.Three potential underlying constructs, namely emotional resilience, interpersonal characteristics and external factors, were found to emerge from the data and identified as likely to influence foster placement outcomes. These data provide a springboard for further quantitative investigation with the potential to screen prospective carers to identify those best suited to "difficult" placements in order to maximise success for the benefit of all concerned.

Cultivating Resilience in Families Who Foster: Understanding How Families Cope and Adapt Over Time

“…Findings offer empirical support to the idea that resilience is a process rather than an outcome corroborating previous research and conceptualizations of family resilience (Lietz, 2007;Marcellus, 2010;Rolland, 2012). These stories of resilience also confirmed many of the family strengths that have been identified in previous research lending increased confidence regarding the importance of these factors in activating the process of coping and adaptation needed when families face adversity (Buehler et al, 2003;Cooley & Petren, 2011;Hendrix & Ford, 2003;Lietz & Strength, 2011;Oke et al, 2013;Preston et al, 2012;Walsh, 2003Walsh, , 2006. www.FamilyProcess.org 670 / FAMILY PROCESS These findings can inform child welfare policy and services to help families navigate the challenges of foster care.…”

“…In families who foster, this commitment was expressed both as a desire for cohesion of the original unit of the fostering family and as a commitment to continuing as foster parents. Consistent with previous research (Hendrix & Ford, 2003;Oke et al, 2013;Preston et al, 2012), families expressed a strong desire to provide a home for vulnerable children. For example, one parent explained, "I continue to foster because I know the need is out there.. .…”

“…There were also stories about emotional boundary setting similar to what Preston et al (2012) describes as "emotional resilience" (p. 157). When discussing setting these boundaries, the families were clear in the importance of loving the children while separating from the stress of the situation.…”

“…Many appraise fostering as rewarding due to their ability to care for a child in need (Geiger, Hayes, & Lietz, 2013;Whenan, Oxlad, & Lushington, 2009). Foster parents report great satisfaction when they can observe positive changes in the children for whom they care (Brown & Campbell, 2007;Preston, Yates, & Moss, 2012;Wells, Farmer, Richards, & Burns, 2004).…”

“…Children in care also face emotional distress as a result of the removal and are at higher risk for mental health problems (Stahmer et al, 2005). In these cases, managing difficult behavior is quite stressful (Buehler et al, 2003;Preston et al, 2012;Whenan et al, 2009).…”