The Challenges and Resources of Adoptive and Long-Term Foster Parents of Children with Trauma Histories: A Mixed Methods Study

Barrett, Karen Caplovitz; Polly-Almanza, Abby Audrey; Orsi, Rebecca

doi:10.1080/10926755.2021.1976335

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Many US studies focused on internalizing and externalizing behaviors of children as the major source of stress for carers ( Barrett et al, 2021 ; Bundy-Fazioli et al, 2013 ; Cooley et al, 2015 ; Fawley-King et al, 2020 ; Goemans et al, 2017 ; Leathers et al, 2019 ; Lin, 2018 ; Nadeem et al, 2017 ; White et al, 2021 ). Two studies linked high family dysfunction and low family competence to carer strain ( Gleeson et al, 2016 ; Julien-Chinn et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A few US studies focused on sociopolitical factors associated with carer stress emphasized poor governance and inadequate access to primary and specialty services for children and young people in care ( E.R. Barnett et al, 2017 ; Schneiderman et al, 2012 ; White et al, 2021 ; Woods, 2021 ), resulting in an unstable support system for carers ( Barrett et al, 2021 ). Although training was provided, a lack of post-training resources left carers feeling unsupported ( Barrett et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Barnett et al, 2017 ; Schneiderman et al, 2012 ; White et al, 2021 ; Woods, 2021 ), resulting in an unstable support system for carers ( Barrett et al, 2021 ). Although training was provided, a lack of post-training resources left carers feeling unsupported ( Barrett et al, 2021 ). Carers reported a lack of systemic supports and resources as a source of stress ( Cooley et al, 2015 ), including barriers in obtaining health insurance and transportation for the children ( Schneiderman et al, 2012 ; Woods, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Professional Quality of Life of Foster and Kinship Carers in Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States: A Scoping Review

McLaren,

Patmisari,

Huang

2023

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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Professional quality of life (ProQOL) refers to workers’ subjective feelings associated with work involved in helping others who have experienced trauma. It consists of positive and negative aspects, that is, subscales of compassion satisfaction, and burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Foster and kinship caring inherently involves risks associated with exposure to the trauma responses of children in their care. This exposure can lead to poor ProQOL, carer attrition, and placement instability. While limited studies specifically explore ProQOL of carers, many studies have examined factors and interventions related to ProQOL. However, there is a lack of synthesis of these studies. To fill such a research gap, we undertook a scoping review of 70 empirical studies from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, published from 2012 to 2022 reporting on ProQOL, and its related factors and concepts. We applied a multilevel ecosocial construct to examine complex interrelationships between private and governance settings to better understand factors related to ProQOL of carers and interventions aimed to improve it in these dynamic systems. In our review, some studies showed positive outcomes for carers, such as reduced stress or burnout associated with training. However, there was insufficient attention to factors associated with ProQOL at relational and sociopolitical levels. It is crucial to improve carers’ ProQOL or well-being to ensure their retention and placement stability. Long-term systemic improvements require interventions across different levels of the system.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Professional Quality of Life of Foster and Kinship Carers in Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States: A Scoping Review

McLaren,

Patmisari,

Huang

2023

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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“…Studies on foster carers' vicarious trauma in Australia showed that caring for abused or traumatised children and young people was proven to be stressful and isolating (Harding et al, 2018(Harding et al, , 2020a(Harding et al, , 2020bRiggs, 2021). Foster carers repeatedly identified a lack of support in studies examining the experiences of foster caring (Gleeson et al, 2016;Kiraly et al, 2015;McLaren et al, 2024;Octoman & McLean, 2014) or the support that was offered was limited in helpfulness (Barrett et al, 2021). Social support can buffer the negative impact of parenting stress on the well-being of foster carers and enhance their satisfaction (Cooley et al, 2019;Dominick et al, 2015;Sharda, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring social networks in foster caring: The mockingbird family in Australia

Jones,

Patmisari,

McLaren

et al. 2024

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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In their care of children and young people, foster carers report experiencing social isolation and a lack of support. This study examines the social network experiences of Australian foster carers who are members of Mockingbird Family. While well established in the United States and United Kingdom, Mockingbird Family was introduced to Australia offering a new approach to address the unique challenges of foster caring for vulnerable children and young people. The model geographically networks 6–10 foster care households in a ‘constellation’ with a central ‘hub home provider’ tasked with providing information, support, and respite care. This study employed a cross-sectional explanatory sequential mixed methods approach to investigate social connections and supports in the first four Australian Mockingbird Family constellations. A social network tool was used to survey participants ( n = 27) and two focus groups ( n = 20) to gather their experiences. Analysis found the highest mean social network connections with people from within their own Mockingbird Family constellations. Three measures of centrality were used indegree, betweenness and closeness, to report the connections and role of members within each constellation. Comparing constellations at different stages of maturity, the hub home provider was consistently ranked with high betweenness centrality as the bridge. In the longer-running constellations, the hub home provider was ranked with high indegree centrality or the primary source of advice or expert support. This indicated micro-network evolution that may potentially result in reduced reliance on statutory and other formal system supports over time. Changes to micro-dynamics in social support within constellations were explained qualitatively through three themes: leadership and expertise, information diffusion and communication, and trust and familiarity. Mockingbird Family was found to provide social connections and support networks amongst foster carers, indicating the model’s capacity to strengthen supports to carers thereby strengthening the immediate environment of children and young people in care.

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Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress

McLaren,

Patmisari,

Jones

2024

Children and Youth Services Review

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The Challenges and Resources of Adoptive and Long-Term Foster Parents of Children with Trauma Histories: A Mixed Methods Study

Cited by 4 publications

References 39 publications

Professional Quality of Life of Foster and Kinship Carers in Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States: A Scoping Review

Professional Quality of Life of Foster and Kinship Carers in Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States: A Scoping Review

Exploring social networks in foster caring: The mockingbird family in Australia

Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress

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