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Communication patterns between foster parents and case managers

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  • Denlinger, Melissa
  • Dorius, Cassandra

Abstract

More than 435,000 children reside in foster care in the United States, and despite the high number of children whom need homes, only a fraction of the entire pool of foster parents care for the majority of foster children. Furthermore, about half of foster parents quit within one year of receiving placements. Research has demonstrated that a lack of appropriate foster homes is linked to placement instability and adverse effects on children's overall health and well-being. It is imperative to improve foster parent retention to enhance the well-being of children living in foster care. The current study examined how to best facilitate a healthier professional relationship between case managers and foster families with the goal of identifying concrete ways to improve the relationship and drive foster parent retention. Data were collected via in-depth, qualitative interviews to identify characteristics of the relationship with case workers that are most valuable to foster mothers. Six themes emerged in our study that reflects the importance of quality, timely communication on foster mother/case manager relationship satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:89:y:2018:i:c:p:329-339
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nesmith, Ande, 2020. "False allegations and caseworker conflict: Stressors among long-term foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. 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).
    3. 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).
    4. 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.

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