Foster Mothers' Stress, Coping, and Social Support in Parenting Drug-Exposed and Other At-Risk Toddlers

Foster Family Characteristics and Behavioral and Emotional Problems of Foster Children: A Narrative Review*

“…Soliday et al (1994), in a study of 29 foster mothers, reported that 14% of mothers were above the 75th percentile in the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index and that 3% were above the 75th percentile on the total index. Wallace and Belcher (1997) found that 18% of 27 foster children were in “at‐risk” homes, based on results of the Nursing Assessment Feeding Scale, a measure of the quality of parent–child interactions, and that 18% of 11 children were in “at‐risk” homes based on the Nursing Assessment Teaching Scale, a measure of the quality of parent–child interactions within the context of a teaching task.…”

“…The majority of foster parents in 12 of the 17 studies reporting education had at least a high school education (Cautley, 1980; Cohon & Cooper, 1993; Doelling & Johnson, 1989, 1990; Gaudin & Sutphen, 1993; Gebel, 1996; Green et al, 1996; Guerney & Gavigan, 1981; Lindholm & Touliatos, 1978; Seaberg & Harrigan, 1997; Simms & Horwitz, 1996; Smith, 1994; Soliday et al, 1994). Considerable variation existed within these studies, in that at least eight included parents with less than a high school education (Fanshel, 1966; Gebel, 1996; Hampson & Tavormina, 1980; Lindholm & Touliatos, 1978; Marcus, 1991; Seaberg & Harrigan, 1997; Simms & Horwitz, 1996; Walsh & Walsh, 1990), and at least nine reported parents with some college education (Cautley, 1980; Cohon & Cooper, 1993; Fanshel, 1966; Gebel, 1996; Lindholm & Touliatos, 1978; Marcus, 1991; Seaberg & Harrigan, 1997; Simms & Horwitz, 1996; Soliday et al, 1994). Three of these nine studies also included parents with graduate degrees (Cohon & Cooper, 1993; Lindholm & Touliatos, 1978; Seaberg & Harrigan, 1997).…”

“…Three of the 14 studies reporting race had 88% or more White foster parents (Cautley, 1980; Guerney & Gavigan, 1981; Lindholm & Touliatos, 1978). However, the remaining 11 studies included substantial percentages of African American foster parents, ranging from 28 to 58% of parents (Cohon & Cooper, 1993; Fanshel, 1966; Fanshel & Shinn, 1978; Gebel, 1996; Hampson & Tavormina, 1980; Lipton, 1997; Marcus, 1991; Seaberg & Harrigan, 1997; Simms & Horwitz, 1996; Smith, 1994; Soliday et al, 1994). Two studies also had Hispanic parents (Fanshel & Shinn, 1978; Simms & Horwitz, 1996) and Asian foster parents (Lipton, 1997) in their sample.…”

“…Soliday and colleagues (1994) and Gaudin and Sutphen (1993) assessed social support reported by foster mothers. Neither study reported information concerning the proportion of mothers with inadequate social support.…”

Developmental Evaluation of the Safe Babies Project: Application of the Coeca Model

“…Soliday, McCluskey-Fawcett, and Meck (1994) found that despite managing additional demands due to numerous medical and behavioral difficulties, foster mothers caring for drug-exposed and other at-risk toddlers experienced normal stress levels and high parenting satisfaction. In her study of foster mothers caring for cocaine-exposed infants, Barton (1998) reported that despite formidable limitations in support from extended families, the community, and the social services system, foster parents were highly committed to parenting.…”