Foster families' functioning, experiences and views: Variations by race

Seaberg, James R.; Harrigan, Marcia P.

doi:10.1016/s0190-7409(99)00004-3

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similarly, Seaberg andHarrigan (1997, 1999) found that foster carers felt fostering brought changes in routine and activities as the family adapted to the foster child. These changes could be experienced as bringing turmoil into the family (Brown & Calder, 1999), impacting on relationships within the family and sometimes leading to family conflict, with increased stress and demands on time (Seaberg & Harrigan, 1997, 1999.…”

Section: Foster Family Experiences Of Fosteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Am I damaging my own family?’: Relational changes between foster carers and their birth children

Thompson¹,

McPherson

Marsland

2014

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Foster placements are more likely to break down where the foster carers already have birth children. Studies that explore the impact of fostering on foster carers and their birth children have suggested that relational changes occur, but these changes have not been examined in depth. This study aimed to explore the impact of fostering on parent-child relationships within foster families. Nine foster carers (including three couples) were interviewed separately, and the data were analysed using constructivist grounded theory methods. Analysis indicated that birth children may attribute particular importance to their position in the family (e.g. oldest child, youngest child) and that this is a key element of the way in which they relate to their parents. Emotional security and parent-child relationships can therefore be strained by a foster placement not taking this into account. Foster children also introduce significant competition for parental resources, putting a strain on relationships. Foster carers seem to prioritise, consciously or not, the preservation of relationships within the biological family. Reflecting on relationships and making changes to maximise potential improvements in relationships can lead to positive outcomes, and this can have an impact on whether families continue fostering or not.

show abstract

Section: Foster Family Experiences Of Fosteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Am I damaging my own family?’: Relational changes between foster carers and their birth children

Thompson¹,

McPherson

Marsland

2014

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The only difference was on the affective responsiveness subscale, with White families demonstrating more favorable mean scores than African American foster families. However, both scores were more favorable than clinical and nonclinical norms (Seaberg & Harrigan, 1999). The current study used the FAD to assess family functioning through interviews with kin foster parents and examines associations between family functioning and child behavioral functioning.…”

Section: Family Functioning Of Kin and Nonkin Foster Familiesmentioning

confidence: 94%

Family Functioning, Parenting Style, and Child Behavior in Kin Foster Care

Richardson

Gleeson

2012

Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Service

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Face-to-face interviews with 120 predominantly African American kin caregivers of children in the child welfare system revealed significant associations between family functioning and child behavior problems. Caregivers who reported healthier family functioning tended to report lower levels of behavior problems by the children in their care. Healthier family functioning related to roles and affective involvement were associated with lower levels of child behavior problems, but, surprisingly, less healthy family functioning related to behavior control was also associated with lower levels of child behavior problems. Caregiver ratings of their parenting styles were related to family functioning but not to their ratings of the child's behavioral functioning. Results of this study suggest several implications for child welfare practice and future research.

show abstract

“…These mothers are motivated by family-oriented reasons, such as from the fulfillment they receive in their roles as mothers desirous of helping other children (Seaberg and Harrigan 1999;James Bell Associates 1993). A sizeable number are kinship foster mothers who preserve family by providing care to relatives' children who would otherwise be placed with strangers (Annie E. Casey Foundation 2006).…”

Section: Foster Mothers and Tanf: Distinct Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%