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Recent Publication on Foster Care
Without the support of my family, I couldn't do the job':
Foster carers' perspectives on informal supports in the role.
Laura Butler Northern Trust and Emma McGinnis Ulster University
https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759211041342
Abstract
Fostering agencies face increasing challenges recruiting and retaining foster carers
while the number of children requiring foster placements continues to rise annually.
This Northern Ireland study used qualitative methods with 11 foster carers to
understand: if they had any expectation of support from family and friends in the
role; and where this was available, whether it promoted their resilience in
continuing as foster carers. Most foster carers in the study reported experiencing
positive input from family, with a few exceptions. Carers' adult children were
considered particularly helpful, with some becoming advocates for fostering. While
a number of the carers experienced good support from friends, a clear
understanding of the fostering role at critical times, including during the carers' life
stages, was key to the experience of support from both family and friends. All
participating foster carers were female. Implications for practice include examining
opportunities for developing and facilitating the support potential of adult children,
extended family and friends. These could include focused information and tailored
training, together with creative user-led approaches for organisations to harness
this under-utilised yet fundamental support.
Keywords
Foster carers, peer support, resilience, adaptation, recruitment, retention, informal
networks, family and friends, Northern Ireland
Laura participated in the Post-qualifying Research Methods at UU and we are
delighted to see another journal article by a social work practitioner.
"The more healthy relationships a child
has, the more likely he will be to recover
from trauma and thrive. Relationships are
the agents of change and the most
powerful therapy is human love"
Dr Bruce Perry