Challenging Children in Kin Versus Nonkin Foster Care: Perceived Costs and Benefits to Caregivers

Abstract

This study uses social exchange theory as a framework for examining 102 kin and 157 nonkin foster parents' perceptions of their foster children, their relationships with them, and their own functioning. The authors argue that these perceptions reflect perceived costs and benefits of parenting these children, which may influence their investment in them. All children in the study were referred to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for treatment of the children's behavior problems, participating with their foster parents. Analyses showed that nonkin caregivers rated their foster children's behavior problems as significantly more severe than kin caregivers but rated themselves as significantly less stressed. Analyses predicting early treatment termination showed that kin caregivers were more likely than nonkin caregivers to complete the course of treatment in PCIT, particularly if they reported elevated levels of parental distress. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for foster children's placement stability and long-term success.

The effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for maltreated children and adolescents: an evidence synthesis

“…One issue of concern identified by Timmer et al 656 (not for the first time) is that kin foster carers lack much-needed support in managing the challenging behaviour of the children whom they are fostering.…”

“…The rationale for the study 656 was that such perceptions might impact on the investment that foster carers make in their foster children, all of whom had been referred to PCIT on account of their behaviour problems.…”

“…The study 656 report contains no detailed description of the intervention, but provides a brief outline of standard PCIT, that is, a two-phase therapy that begins with a focus on enhancing the parent-child relationships (CDirI) followed by a focus on enhancing child compliance (PDI). Both phases (which each last around 7-10 sessions) begin with a didactic component followed by therapist coaching, conducted by a 'bug in the ear' from a separate observation room.…”

“…Timmer et al 656 used social exchange theory as a framework within which to examine foster parents' perceptions of their foster children, their relationships with them and their own functioning, comparing the views of 102 kin and 157 non-kin foster carers. The rationale for the study 656 was that such perceptions might impact on the investment that foster carers make in their foster children, all of whom had been referred to PCIT on account of their behaviour problems.…”

Financial well-being in family-based foster care: Exploring variation in income supports for kin and non-kin caregivers in California

“…Examining findings from nine studies from 1994 to 2004, Winokur et al (2009) concluded that children in non-relative foster care were more likely to receive mental health services than children placed in kinship foster care, though it is unclear whether these differences in mental health utilization were due to underlying differential need between children in kin and non-kin care, or differences in knowledge and/or access to care among kin and non-kin providers. One explanation for differences in receipt of formal mental health treatment draws from evidence that the same child behavior may be interpreted or reported differently, based on the caregiver relationship to the child (Gebel, 1996;Rosenthal & Curiel, 2006;Timmer, Sedlar, & Urquiza, 2004;), and that kin may provide positively skewed assessments of the behavior of children in their care (Barth, 2008;Shore, Sim, Le Prohn, & Keller, 2002), which might result in children receiving less formal treatment for their behavior because caregivers do not perceive it as sufficiently problematic or warranting intervention (Daly & Perry, 2011).…”