Keeping families afloat: Foster carer’s parenting experiences during COVID-19 in Ghana and implications for practice

Abstract

Formal foster care is a relatively new phenomenon in Ghana. The practice is in conformity with international and national policy guidelines to deinstitutionalize and strengthen family-based care for children without adequate parental care. In addition to the known challenges of foster parenting in Ghana (stigma, financial challenges and emotional strain, inexperience of the foster parents), the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 restrictions may worsen caregivers’ burden and negatively affect children in care. This study explored how foster parents are meeting their caregiving demands during the COVID-19 pandemic in the face of existing and new challenges. Following a participatory practice research approach, a co-constructed interview guide by the researchers and a practitioner was used to conduct in-depth telephone interviews with 13 foster parents. Findings from thematic analysis of the interviews showed challenges, including increased cost of caregiving and multiple caregiving duties as challenges facing foster parents whereas children’s knowledge about the virus, informal support and religious beliefs collectively enhanced caregiving during the pandemic. The findings provide learning about ways to alleviate parenting challenges for foster parents during and after the pandemic. Specifically, interventions that view children as actors for change and strengthen community and religious bodies to deliver psychosocial services would be useful to improve foster parenting.

‘There is not much we can do’: The roles and challenges of Nigeria's child protection social workers

“…The existing literature suggests that social work existed in Nigeria in the form of social clubs, missionaries, voluntary agencies, and traditional family systems that provided mental healthcare and welfare services for children and the elderly (Amadasun, 2021; Isangha et al, 2021). Similar to other SSA countries like Ghana, these forms are classified as informal and formal (Connolly & Katz, 2019; Frimpong‐Manso et al, 2021). In informal systems, extended families and community members are usually involved and preferred (Abdullah et al, 2020; Adeboye et al, 2019; Jones et al, 2012).…”

The voices of parents in child protective services: A qualitative analysis of families’ struggles with COVID-19

“…The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has caused major changes in people’s lives and their well-being ( Appleton & Sidebotham, 2020 ; Capp, Watson, Astor, Kelly, & Benbenishty, 2021 ; Cruden, Campbell, & Saldana, 2021 ; Frimpong-Manso, Cudjoe, Abdullah, Deliege, & Eshun, 2021 ; Harrikari, Romakkaniemi, Tiitinen, & Ovaskainen, 2021 ; Nilsen & Skarpenes, 2020 ; Owusu & Frimpong-Manso, 2020 ; Rapp, Fall, Radomsky, & Santarossa, 2021 ), thrusting the world into a crisis ( Pisani-Jacques, 2020 ). The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have had an impact on children and families worldwide ( Huang & Ougrin, 2021 ), as children become more vulnerable during emergency situations ( Chun & Kim, 2021 ).…”

“…Children and parents in Child Protective Services (CPS) are considered the most vulnerable in this pandemic ( Bolborici, 2020 ; Fegert & Schulze, 2020 ; Frimpong-Manso et al, 2021 ; Goldberg, Brodzinsky, Singer, & Crozier, 2021 ; Goldberg, McCormick, & Virginia, 2021 ; Janssen et al, 2020 ; Langley, Ruderman, Waterman, & Franke, 2021 ; Orlando et al, 2021 ) as the majority families in CPS tend to have ongoing needs (see Caldwell et al, 2020 ). Several scholars believe that the vulnerability of children and families in need has intensified in this global crisis ( Bolborici, 2020 ; Franic & Dodig-Curkovic, 2020 ; Vilar-Compte, Pérez, Teruel, Alonso, & Pérez-Escamilla, 2020 ; Zhang, Li, Shi, Dong, & Wang, 2021 ).…”