IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v179y2025ics0190740925005006.html

Behavioral skills training and support groups to improve the caretaking experiences of foster parents

Author

Listed:
  • Smeyne, Catelyn N.
  • Vincent, Lori B.
  • McCoy, Dacia M.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to pilot the Boys Town Common Sense Parenting (CSP; Boys Town, 2015) curriculum followed by virtual behavioral support groups utilizing a structured peer group supervision model to improve the experiences of local foster parents and the youth in their care. Through the implementation of an evidence-based training and follow-up supports, this empirical study aimed to evaluate the utility and acceptability of the Boys Town CSP training and structured behavioral support groups for local foster parents and identify the pressing needs of local foster parents to inform ongoing therapeutic efforts. The results of this study provide preliminary support that the CSP training was appropriate and acceptable for foster parents. Additionally, findings from this study propose the importance of ongoing supports with the provision of continual access to knowledge, resources, and community-building initiatives to improve the overall experiences of families within the foster care system.

Suggested Citation

  • Smeyne, Catelyn N. & Vincent, Lori B. & McCoy, Dacia M., 2025. "Behavioral skills training and support groups to improve the caretaking experiences of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:179:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925005006
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108617
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740925005006
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108617?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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).
    2. Vacca, James S., 2008. "Foster children need more help after they reach the age of eighteen," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 485-492, May.
    3. Cooley, Morgan E. & Thompson, Heather M. & Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson, 2017. "Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 35-41.
    4. Furlong, Mairead & McLoughlin, Fergal & McGilloway, Sinead, 2021. "The incredible years parenting program for foster carers and biological parents of children in foster care: A mixed methods study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    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. Couture, Bridget & Pryce, Julia & Erickson, Reign & Bosch, Emma & Love, Shanequewa & Gilkerson, Linda, 2025. "Undervalued, misled, & isolated: foster parents’ experience of (mis)attunement within our compliance-centered system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Cooley, Morgan E. & Petren, Raymond E., 2020. "A qualitative examination of coparenting among foster parent dyads," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    3. 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).
    4. O’Connell, Brίd & McCormack, David & Maguire, Darren & Wurm, Fina & Fosker, Tim, 2025. "A thematic synthesis of foster carer experiences when engaging in attachment-informed interventions for children in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    5. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    6. 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).
    7. Cooley, Morgan E. & Thompson, Heather M. & Gillen, Martie & Colvin, Marianna & Jimenez-Bean, Robin, 2024. "Preservice training perspectives among Florida foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    8. Shdaimah, Corey S. & Alexander, Ivana T., 2018. "Foster parents’ experience of dependency court: Laying the groundwork for engagement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 265-273.
    9. Miller, Arianne E. & Green, Tonika Duren & Lambros, Katina M., 2019. "Foster parent self-care: A conceptual model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 107-114.
    10. 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.
    11. 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).
    12. Nesmith, Ande, 2020. "False allegations and caseworker conflict: Stressors among long-term foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    13. Haysom, Zoe & Shlonsky, Aron & Hamilton, Bridget, 2025. "Balancing the high personal costs and rewards in providing foster care: Experiences of non-related foster carers in Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    14. McLean, Lavinia & Penco, Rebecca, 2020. "Physical activity: Exploring the barriers and facilitators for the engagement of young people in residential care in Ireland," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    15. Elisa Mancinelli & Gaia Dell’Arciprete & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "A Systematic Review on Foster Parents’ Psychological Adjustment and Parenting Style—An Evaluation of Foster Parents and Foster Children Variables," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-25, October.
    16. Bender, Kimberly & Yang, Jessica & Ferguson, Kristin & Thompson, Sanna, 2015. "Experiences and needs of homeless youth with a history of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 222-231.
    17. Healy, Karen & Venables, Jemma & Walsh, Tamara, 2023. "Supporting birth parents’ relationships with children following removal: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    18. Pope, Natalie D. & Jay Miller, J. & Benner, Kalea, 2020. "Cultivating resilience in new foster parents through mentoring: A dyadic analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    19. Hamzallari, Oriola & Stanke, Koraljka Modić & Stefanek, Elisabeth & Spiel, Georg, 2025. "Scoping review of parenting instruments used in evidence-based family support programs in different populations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:179:y:2025:i:c:s0190740925005006. 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.