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Gentle iron will: Foster parents' perspectives

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  • Daniel, Ellice

Abstract

In this qualitative exploratory study the perspectives of foster parents in an eastern Canadian province, who had at least five years of fostering experience, were explored through structured open-ended telephone interviews. The interview questions were organized around seven main areas based on the personal experiences as foster parents which were: the misconceptions they encountered, their motivation and the reasons they continue to foster, the joys, as well as the barriers and challenges these foster parents faced, and what advice foster parents would offer future foster parents. Four themes emerged through the data analysis: misunderstood intent, joyful satisfaction, unrealistic expectations, and missing pieces. The emergent theoretical model "gentle iron will" reflects the feelings associated with the obligation resulting from the commitment foster parents made to themselves and the children in their care. This study supports much of the literature on the experiences of foster parents because the participants' responses are reflected in the existing body of literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel, Ellice, 2011. "Gentle iron will: Foster parents' perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 910-917, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:33:y:2011:i:6:p:910-917
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    1. Sanchirico, Andrew & Lau, W. Josephine & Jablonka, Kary & Russell, Stephen J., 1998. "Foster parent involvement in service planning: Does it increase job satisfaction?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 325-346, May.
    2. Brown, Jason D. & Campbell, Melissa, 2007. "Foster parent perceptions of placement success," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1010-1020, August.
    3. Orme, John G. & Buehler, Cheryl & McSurdy, Michael & Rhodes, Kathryn W. & Ellen Cox, Mary & Patterson, David A., 2004. "Parental and familial characteristics of family foster care applicants," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 307-329, March.
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    1. 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).
    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. 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).
    4. Serbinski, Sarah & Shlonsky, Aron, 2014. "Is it that we are afraid to ask? A scoping review about sons and daughters of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 101-114.
    5. Spielfogel, Jill E. & Leathers, Sonya J. & Christian, Errick & McMeel, Lorri S., 2011. "Parent management training, relationships with agency staff, and child mental health: Urban foster parents' perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2366-2374.
    6. 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).
    7. 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.
    8. Brown, Jason D. & Ivanova, Viktoria & Mehta, Nisha & Skrodzki, Donna & Gerrits, Julie, 2013. "Social needs of aboriginal foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 1886-1893.
    9. Brown, Jason D. & Gerritts, Julie & Ivanova, Viktoria & Mehta, Nisha & Skrodzki, Donna, 2012. "Motives of aboriginal foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1298-1304.
    10. Raudkivi, Madli, 2020. "What factors predispose the intention to become a foster family in Estonia: Applying the theory of reasoned action and planned behavior?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    11. Ahn, Haksoon & DePanfilis, Diane & Frick, Kevin & Barth, Richard P., 2018. "Estimating minimum adequate foster care costs for children in the United States," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 55-67.
    12. Baer, Lauren & Diehl, David K., 2019. "Foster care for teenagers: Motivators, barriers, and strategies to overcome barriers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 264-277.
    13. Degener, Clementine J. & van Bergen, Diana D. & Grietens, Hans W.E., 2020. "The ethnic identity complexity of transculturally placed foster youth in the Netherlands," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).

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