Child and Youth Care Forum: 'Parental involvement during the placement of a child in family foster care: factors associated with the continuation of parental roles'.

Poirier, Marie-Andree ; Simard, Marie

Child and Youth Care Forum 35:3, June 2006, pp 277-88, US

This article presents the results of a Canadian study on parental involvement in family foster care. The aims of the study were: (a) to describe the participation of the parents, and (b) to identify variables associated with their participation. Fifty-eight parents having a child in family foster care were interviewed using a face-to-face questionnaire. The results indicate that parents participate little in care-related tasks or school activities, but are more involved in decision-making and discussions concerning the child. The researchers observed greater participation where the parent had a spouse or partner and where the social workers and foster parents seemed to have a positive attitude towards parental participation and towards the parents themselves.