Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents

Cooley, Morgan E.; Thompson, Heather; Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.02.030

Cited by 43 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…However, multiple recent reports have found that foster parents report generally high levels of stress, outside of a crisis or emergency situation (e.g., Havik et al, 2016;Megahead & Deater-Deckard, 2017), and some report higher levels of parental stress than biological parents in a natal family context (Bergsund et al, 2019). One thing does seem clear: foster care presents unique parenting circumstances, and whether the associated stress seems manageable or not, it is often present and must be coped with in some way (Adams et al, 2018;Cooley et al, 2017).…”

Section: A Systemic Perspective To Understanding the Potential Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Stress: A Study of Foster Parents

Miller

Cooley

Mihalec-Adkins

2020

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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Purpose The overarching purpose of this exploratory study was to understand how foster parents' parenting-related stress levels have changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the role of sociodemographic characteristics in exacerbating risk for increased stress. Method Participants were electronically surveyed about their pre-and post-pandemic parenting-related stress, using an adapted version of the parenting stress scale. Results Nine-hundred and ninety foster parents (N = 990) participated in the study. Overall, foster parents reported significant increases along three specific domains of stress-namely, parenting stress, lack of control, and parental satisfaction (reversescored). Analyses for group differences on the post-only scores indicated that foster parents who are not married, or who report poorer mental health (i.e., "good", versus "very good" or "excellent") or financial circumstances (i.e., as indicated by not reliably having more income than expenses) may face increased risk for exacerbated stress during this pandemic. Discussion Findings from this study indicate that parental stress-levels among foster parents have increased since the start of COVID-19. These findings are not only troubling for foster caregivers, but may also have implications for the youth in their care. Ultimately, results from this study indicate the need to better support foster parents, in general, and during public health crises, specifically.

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Section: A Systemic Perspective To Understanding the Potential Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Stress: A Study of Foster Parents

Miller

Cooley

Mihalec-Adkins

2020

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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“…Research suggests that children are at an increased risk of negative outcomes like child neglect due to the COVID-19 and its associated public health measures (Bérubé et al, 2020; Caldwell et al, 2020). This is more so for children in the care of foster parents who are already burdened with limited financial resources, inadequate support from social services, stigma and emotional challenges (Cooley et al, 2017; Frimpong-Manso et al, 2020). It is safe to assert that the pandemic introduces new and profound challenges or concerns for foster parents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Frimpong‐Manso

Cudjoe

Abdullah

et al. 2021

Developmental Child Welfare

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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.

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“…The child welfare system is under constant scrutiny and the challenges within this system are well known, such as the slow reunification process, dealing with complex family issues like substance abuse and mental illness, and creating stable foster care placements. (Cooley et al, 2017, p. 35)Increased exposure to institutional care (e.g., foster care) early in life has been tied to decreased impulse control in children (Hostinar et al, 2012). An individual with decreased impulse control is less likely to have the skills to adaptively resolve conflicts with authority figures, increasing the likelihood of delinquent acts (Logan-Greene et al, 2017, p. 927).…”

Section: Aces and Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Aces and Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Family Violence in Context: An Intergenerational Systemic Model

Southern

Sullivan

2021

The Family Journal

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Family violence represents a major public health problem and a violation of human rights. Violent families engage in child maltreatment or intimate partner violence in response to horizontal stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and vertical stressors, including events in the family life cycle and changes in cultural contexts. Although family violence is often considered an individual problem, solutions require close examination of family structure, dynamics, and competence. The Beavers Systems Model for Family Functioning identified family groupings at risk of family violence. An emerging perspective on intergenerational transmission of violence from childhood neglect and abuse to elder abuse accounts for the accumulation of adverse childhood experiences and increasing risk of victimization or perpetration. An intergenerational systemic model identifies multiple contexts and levels for evaluating and treating family violence over the life span. Early identification and intervention facilitate prevention and rehabilitation. As families transcend adversity, they are able to realize post-traumatic growth and resilience. Recommendations for applications of the model are offered.

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Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents

Cited by 43 publications

References 35 publications

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Stress: A Study of Foster Parents

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Stress: A Study of Foster Parents

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

Family Violence in Context: An Intergenerational Systemic Model

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