IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v146y2023ics0190740923000099.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Stay just a little bit longer: A scoping review of foster parent engagement in the U.S

Author

Listed:
  • Williams, Kimberly A.
  • Lewis, Ericka M.
  • Feely, Megan

Abstract

Despite the growing need for quality foster homes, retaining foster parents continues to be a challenge. A significant burden is placed on child welfare agencies to recruit, train, and retain quality foster parents to ensure available homes for children in need. To synthesize what is known about foster parent engagement, this article describes the modifiable factors impacting foster parent satisfaction, commitment, and retention. This scoping review engaged in a comprehensive exploration of the literature by mapping out the extent, range, and nature of foster parent engagement, screening studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and summarizing findings. Twenty-three articles met inclusion criteria. Three themes emerged as factors impacting foster parent engagement: (1) training, (2) resources, and (3) relationships. Eight studies evaluated unspecified training and three studies examined evidenced-informed training interventions. Resources were explored in ten studies and included concrete resources such as respite, financial assistance, and transportation. Relationships, categorized as professional social support (n = 15) and personal social support (n = 16), were also studied. A notable finding of this scoping review is the importance of relationship building across foster care stakeholders. Specifically, strengthened relationships between foster parents and caseworkers improved outcomes across all components of foster care engagement (satisfaction, commitment, and retention). Further studies are needed to understand the ways in which specialized training and social support improve foster parent engagement over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, Kimberly A. & Lewis, Ericka M. & Feely, Megan, 2023. "Stay just a little bit longer: A scoping review of foster parent engagement in the U.S," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:146:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923000099
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106814
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740923000099
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106814?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gibbs, Deborah & Wildfire, Judith, 2007. "Length of service for foster parents: Using administrative data to understand retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 588-599, May.
    2. Orme, John G. & Cherry, Donna J. & Rhodes, Kathryn W., 2006. "The Help with Fostering Inventory," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(11), pages 1293-1311, November.
    3. Ahn, Haksoon & Greeno, Elizabeth J. & Bright, Charlotte Lyn & Hartzel, Samantha & Reiman, Sarah, 2017. "A survival analysis of the length of foster parenting duration and implications for recruitment and retention of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 478-484.
    4. Sally Preston & Kevin Yates & Mark Moss, 2012. "Does Emotional Resilience Enhance Foster Placement Stability? A Qualitative Investigation," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(3), pages 153-153, September.
    5. Mallette, Jacquelyn K. & Almond, Lindsey & Leonard, Hannah, 2020. "Fostering healthy families: An exploration of the informal and formal support needs of foster caregivers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    6. Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Strickler, Amy & Triplett, Dawn R. & Trunzo, Annette C., 2016. "Treatment foster parent satisfaction: Survey validation and predictors of satisfaction, retention, and intent to refer," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 105-110.
    7. Strickler, Amy & Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Celedonia, Karen L., 2018. "Reducing barriers to using data: A learning collaborative approach to leverage collective knowledge about treatment parent satisfaction and retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 300-307.
    8. Bartlett, Jessica Dym & Rushovich, Berenice, 2018. "Implementation of Trauma Systems Therapy-Foster Care in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 30-38.
    9. Whenan, Rachel & Oxlad, Melissa & Lushington, Kurt, 2009. "Factors associated with foster carer well-being, satisfaction and intention to continue providing out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 752-760, July.
    10. Denlinger, Melissa & Dorius, Cassandra, 2018. "Communication patterns between foster parents and case managers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 329-339.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Findley, Erin & Praetorius, Regina T., 2023. "Points of foster parent stress in the system: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Griffiths, Austin & Holderfield-Gaither, Emily & Funge, Simon P. & Warfel, Erin T., 2021. "Satisfaction, willingness, and well-being: Examining the perceptions of a statewide sample of public and private foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    3. Davi, Nicole & Jones, Jennifer & Gillen, Martie, 2021. "An exploration of the motivations and barriers to being a foster parent in Florida," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Tullberg, Erika & Vaughon, Wendy & Muradwij, Nawal & Kerker, Bonnie D., 2019. "Unpacking “support”: Understanding the complex needs of therapeutic foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2020. "The wellbeing of foster and kin carers: A comparative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2018. "High stress experienced in the foster and kin carer role: Understanding the complexities of the carer and child in context," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 316-326.
    7. Nesmith, Ande, 2020. "False allegations and caseworker conflict: Stressors among long-term foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    8. Strickler, Amy & Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Celedonia, Karen L., 2018. "Reducing barriers to using data: A learning collaborative approach to leverage collective knowledge about treatment parent satisfaction and retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 300-307.
    9. Ahn, Haksoon & Greeno, Elizabeth J. & Bright, Charlotte Lyn & Hartzel, Samantha & Reiman, Sarah, 2017. "A survival analysis of the length of foster parenting duration and implications for recruitment and retention of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 478-484.
    10. Cooley, Morgan E. & Womack, Bethany & Rush, Jacqueline & Slinskey, Kristie, 2020. "Adverse childhood experiences among foster parents: Prevalence and association with resilience, coping, satisfaction as a foster parent, and intent to continue fostering," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    11. Cooley, Morgan E. & Newquist, Jennifer & Thompson, Heather M. & Colvin, Marianna L., 2019. "A systematic review of foster parent preservice training," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    12. Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Gyourko, John & Ortiz, Andrew J. & Coleman, Durell & Cancel, Sixto, 2021. "“One hundred and ninety-four got licensed by Monday”: Application of design thinking for foster care innovation and transformation in Rhode Island," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    13. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Gypen, Laura & West, Delphine & Van Holen, Frank, 2020. "Support needs and satisfaction of Flemish foster parents in long-term foster care: Associated characteristics of foster children, foster parents and foster placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    14. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Den Abbeele, Stacey & Fiorentino, Giulia & Gypen, Laura & West, Delphine & Van Holen, Frank, 2020. "The role of foster parents’ basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration as predictors of autonomy-supportive parenting and the functioning of foster children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    15. Denlinger, Melissa & Dorius, Cassandra, 2018. "Communication patterns between foster parents and case managers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 329-339.
    16. Marinescu, Ioana & Tan, Fei & Greeson, Johanna K.P., 2023. "Economic conditions and the number of children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    17. Storer, Heather L. & Barkan, Susan E. & Stenhouse, Linnea L. & Eichenlaub, Caroline & Mallillin, Anastasia & Haggerty, Kevin P., 2014. "In search of connection: The foster youth and caregiver relationship," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 110-117.
    18. Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Strickler, Amy & Triplett, Dawn R. & Trunzo, Annette C., 2016. "Treatment foster parent satisfaction: Survey validation and predictors of satisfaction, retention, and intent to refer," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 105-110.
    19. Miller, J. Jay & Donohue-Dioh, Jessica & Duron, Jacquelynn F. & Geiger, Jennifer M., 2019. "Examining legal representation for foster youth: Perspectives of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Patterson, Debra & Day, Angelique & Vanderwill, Lori & Willis, Tamarie & Resko, Stella & Henneman, Kris & Cohick, Sue, 2018. "Identifying the essential competencies for resource parents to promote permanency and well-being of adolescents in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 457-466.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:146:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923000099. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.