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1999 Foster Parent Stress Canadian Study

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  • 7/27/2019 1999 Foster Parent Stress Canadian Study

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    C a n a d i a n J o u r n a l o f C o u n s e l l i n g / R e v u e c a n a d i e n n e d e c o u n s e l i n g / 1 9 9 9 , V o l . 3 3:1 13

    F o s t e r P a r e n t StressG r a h a m JonesUniversity of AlbertaPatr ick J . MorrissetteMontana State University-BillingsA b s t r a c tC o u n s e l l o r s i n p r i v a t e p r a c t i c e , c o m m u n i t y a g e n c i e s , o r s c h o o l sy s te m s f r e q u e n t l y i n t e ra c t w i t hf o s te r c h i l d r e n a n d fo s t er p a r e n t s . W i t h o u t a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e sy s te m i c r e p e r c u s s i o n sa s s o c i a t e d w i t h f o s t e r p a r e n t stress, c o u n s e l l o r s m a y b e a t a c l i n i c a l d i s a d v a n t a g e . T h i s p a p e rd i s c u s s e s r e s e a r c h fin din gs p e r t a i n i n g t o f o s t e r p a r e n t stress a n d t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s these findingsh a v e f o r c o u n s e l l o r s a n d c o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s . E l e v e n s i g n i f i c a n t t h e m e s w e r e g e n e r a t e d f r o mt h e d a t a a n d i n d i c a t e t h a t f o s t e r p a r e n t s e x p e r i e n c e a w i d e r a n g e o f s t r es s f u l e v e n t s a f f e c t i n gt h e i r p e r s o n a l w e l l - b e i n g , t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h f o s te r c h i l d r e n , a n d t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l s w i t hw h o m t h e y i n t e r a c t .R s u m L e s c o n s e i l l e r s p r a t i c i e n s , l es o r g a n i s m e s c o m m u n a u t a i r e s e t l es c o l e s o n t d e f r q u e n t sr a p p o r t s a v e c le s e n f a n t s e n f a m i l l e d ' a c c u e i l e t l e u r s p a r e n t s d e f a m i l l e d ' a c c u e i l . L a t c h ec l i n i q u e d e s c o n s e i l l e r s p e u t t r e c o m p l i q u e l o r s q u ' i l s n e c o n n a i s s e n t p a s l es c o n s q u e n c e sg n r a l i s e s a s s o c i e s a u stress d e s p a r e n t s d e f a m i l l e d ' a c c u e i l . C e t a r t i c l e d i s c u t e d e s r s u l t a t sd e r e c h e r c h e s s u r c e stress e t d e s i n c i d e n c e s s u r l e t r a v a i l d e s c o n s e i l l e r s p r a t i c i e n s et c o n s e i l l e r s d u c a t e u r s . L e s s t a t i s t i q u e s o n t f a i t a p p a r a t r e o n z e t h m e s i m p o r t a n t s d e s q u e l s i l r e s s o r t q u el es p a r e n t s d e f a m i l l e d ' a c c u e i l s o n t s o u m i s d i v e r s e t n o m b r e u x v n e m e n t s stressants a y a n td e s r p e r c u s s i o n s s u r l e u r s a n t , l e u r s r e l a t i o n s a v e c le s e n f a n t s d o n t i ls o n t l a g a r d e e t l e sp r o f e s s i o n n e l s a v e c l es q u e l s i l s s o n t e n r e l a t i o n .

    A l t h o u g h fos ter care r e m a i n s v e ry p o p u l a r a n d is w i d e l y u s ed t h r o u g h o u lC a n a d a , a c o m p r e h e n s i v e r e v i e w o f th e l i t e r a t u r e i n d i c a t e s th a t fo st erp a r e n t i n g w i t h i n t h e C a n a d i a n scene h a s r e c e i v e d v i r t u a l ly n o a t t e n t i o n .A v a i l a b l e l i t e r a t u r e i s d a t e d , n a r r o w i n s c o p e , a n d i s r e s t r i c t e d t ob as i c ad m in is t ra t ive i ss ues s uch as p r o v i n c i a l f u n d i n g a n d s t a n d a r d s( e.g ., A l b e r t a D e p a r t m e n t o f S o c ia l Se rv ic es a n d C o m m u n i t y H e a l t h ,1 9 8 1 ; O n t a r i o M i n i s t r y o f C o m m u n i t y a n d S o c ia l S erv ices , 1 9 8 1 ; B r i t i s hC o l u m b i a F e d e r a t i o n o f F o s t er P a r e n t A s s o c i a t i o n s , 1 98 7) a n d p r o g r a mi m p l e m e n t a t i o n (e.g. , M o r r i s s e t t e , 1 9 9 2 ; O r e n s t e i n , 1989). B a s e d o n t h ea v a i l a b l e l i t e ra t ure , l i t t l e i s k n o w n a b o u t th e e x p e r i e n c e s a n d o n g o i n gn e e d s o f f o st e r p a r e n t s, a n d h o w c o u n s e l l o r s a n d c o u n s e l l o r e d u c a to r sc a n b e o f h e l p t o t h i s g r o u p .T h e p urp o s e o f t h i s a r t i c l e i s t o d i s cus s f o s t er p arent stress a n d t h ei m p l i c a t i o n s f o r c o u n s e l l o r s a n d c o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s . A n i n c r ea s e cawarenes s o f t h e stresses e x p e r i e n c e d b y f o s te r p a r e n t s , a n d th e s ys te m i cr e p e r c u s s i o n s o f these stresses, c a n e n a b l e c o u n s e l l o r s a n d c o u n s e l l o ie d u c a t o r s t o better u n d e r s t a n d f o s te r p a r e n t s . F r o m t h e o u t se t , it s h o u l db e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t th e i n t e n t o f t h i s p a p e r is n o t to i m p l y a n e x h a u s t i v el ist o f f o s t er p arent s t res s f u l event s .

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    14 G r a h a m Jones a n d P a t r i c k J . M o r r i s s e t t e

    S U B S T I T U T E C A R E P R O V I S I O N A N D S T R E S ST h e s ys t em ic effect o f stress o n b i o l o g i c a l c a r e - g i v i n g f a m i l i e s h a sb e e n e x t e n s i v e l y i n v e s t i g a t e d i n a n u m b e r o f areas i n c l u d i n g p h y s i c a l l yh a n d i c a p p e d i n f a n t s a n d c h i l d r e n (e.g., B e c k m a n , 1 9 8 3 ; F r e y ,G r e e n b e r g , 8c F e w e l l , 1 98 9; G o l d b e r g , M o r r i s , S i m m o n s , F o w l e r , 8cL e v i s o n , 1 99 0 ; Mo rr i s s e t t e , M o rr i s s e t t e , 8c N a d e n , 1 99 8; P a t t e rs o n , 1985),m e n t a l l y r e t a r d e d c h i l d r e n (e.g., M i n n e s , 1 9 8 8 ; C r n i c , F r i e d r i c h , &G r e e n b e r g , 1 9 8 3 ; B a x t e r , 1989), p e d i a t r i c t e r m i n a l i l l n e s s (e.g., K o c h ,1985), a n d c h i l d h o o d d ea th (e.g., L e v a c , M a i s o n , W r i g h t , & B e l l , 1998;W e b e r 8c F o u r n i e r , 1985). I n c on t r a s t , r e s e a r c h p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e stresse x p e r i e n c e d b y n o n - b i o l o g i c a l c a r e - g i v i n g f a m i l i e s is scant. I t can bes p ecula t ed t h a t t h e absence o f res ear ch s p ec i f i c t o foster par ents i s d ue toa l a c k o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e d a i l y c h a l l e n g e s i n h e r e n t i n t h e i rw o r k . I t is also possible that foster p arent i s s ues a re o vers h ad o wed b y t h eo n g o i n g needs a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f foster c h i l d r e n .

    O n e s tu d y c o n c e r n e d t h e effect o f t h e p r i m a r y caretaker's distress ons e x u a l l y a b u s e d foster c h i l d r e n ( L i p t o n , 1997). D a t a f r o m t h i s s t u d yi n d i c a t e d s t r o n g d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n foster m o t h e r a n d b i o l o g i c a lm o t h e r d i s t r e s s a n d s u p p o r t a s w e l l a s a s t r o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e nd is t res s o f t h e care t aker and s ym p t o m o lo gy o f t h e c h i l d . A s e c o n d s t u d yinves t iga t ed t h e stress a m o n g n o n - r e l a t e d h o m e care p r o v i d e r s a n d w a sl i m i t e d t o m e n t a l l y r e t a r d e d a d u l t s ( S t o n e m a n 8c C r a p p s , 1988). F i n d i n g s f r o m t h is s tu d y d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t c u l t i v a t i o n o f s o c i a l s u p p o r tres o urces f o r care p r o v i d e r s p r o v e d m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t r a i n i n g o rc l i e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s f o r m a n a g i n g stress. A l t h o u g h s o m e o f t h e res earchfindings r e g a r d i n g b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l y stress m ay b e genera l iz ed t o s ub s t i tute care-giver stress, s a l i e n t d i f f e r e n c e s m e r i t c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n di n c l u d e ( a ) n o n - g u a r d i a n s h i p status o f foster p arent s , ( b ) d es igna t edt i m e l i n e s f o r care g i v i n g res p o ns i b i l i t i e s , ( c) a va i l ab le re l i e f an d res p i t ecare f o r foster parents , (d ) foster p a r e n t fin an cia l r e m u n e r a t i o n , a n d ( e)foster p arent acces s ib i l i t y t o c l in i ca l s e rv ices .

    T h e absence of resea rch spec i f ic to foster p a r e n t stress, a n d t h e c o n s e quences as s o c ia t ed w i t h th is stress, is p e r p l e x i n g c o n s i d e r i n g t ha t fostercare h as b ee n d e s cr i b ed as a s yst em in c r i s is ( G us t avs s on & K o p e ls , 1 99 2 )w i t h foster p a r e n t s g e n e r a l l y s tr es se d b e y o n d li m i t s b y t h e d e m a n d s o fc a r i n g f o r d i s t u r b e d foster c h i l d r e n ( D o r e & E i s n e r , 19 93 ; E l e a n o r , R a e -G r a n t , A c k l a n d , 8c A v i s o n , 1994). Par t o f t h e c r i s i s m ay b e a t t r ib ut ed t ot he c h a n g i n g e x p e c ta t i o n s p l a c e d o n foster p a r e n ts . W o o l f (1990) assertst h a t t h e s ys tem i s cur ren t ly a t a t ur n in g p o in t in th e h i s t o ry o f foster carea n d t h a t foster care i s ch anging f ro m a cus t o d ia l s ys t em t o o ne t h a t i st r e a tm e n t o r i e n t e d . W h a t c a n b e i n f e r r e d is t h a t foster p arent s a re no wp e r c e i v ed as p e r f o r m i n g a n i n s t r u m e n t a l fu n c t i o n w i t h i n t h e t r e a t m e n tt ea m a n d a re r e s p on s i b le f o r i m p l e m e n t i n g i m p o r t a n t aspects of thet r e a t m e n t p l a n . F o r m a n y foster p aren t s , t h i s ro le is a d e p a r t ure f r o m p as t

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    F o s t e r P a r e n t Stress 15

    r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w h e r e t h e y w e r e r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e s h e lt e r, s u p e r v i s i o n ,a n d t h e tr a n s p o r t a t i o n o f y o u n g p e o p l e .

    F O S T E R P A R E N T S T R E S S : I M P L I C A T I O N S A N D C O N S E Q U E N C E SA s i d e f r o m t h e s t ag ger in g financial costs as s o c ia t ed w i t h a fos ter p lac em e n t b r e a k d o w n ( e. g. , t e m p o r a r y i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e y o u n g p e rs o n , a d d i t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l s u p p o r t , f os te r p a r e n t r e c r u i t m e n t a n dt r a i n i n g ) , t h e e m o t i o n a l a n d p h y s i c a l costs can b e d evas t a t ing t o t h e caregivers , t h e y o u n g p e r s o n , a n d h i s o r h e r b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l y ( C h a r l e s &M a t h e s o n , 1 9 90 ; B u r g e s s , 1 9 94 ; G o l d s t e i n , F r e u d , & S o l n i t , 1979). W h e nf o s t e r p a r e n t stress is d i s r e g a r d e d , t h e r e c a n b e m a j o r s o c i a l i m p l i c a t i o n ss u c h as t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t o f c h i l d r e n i n care ( e . g . , B e n e d i c t , Z u r a v i n ,S o m e r f i e l d , & B r a n d t , 1 99 6 ; B e n e d i c t , Z u r a v i n , B r a n d t , & A b b e y , 1 99 4 ;B o l t o n , L a n e r , 8c G a i , 1 9 81 ; R o s e n t h a l , M o t z , E d m o n s o n , G r o z e , 1 991 ;S p e n c e r & K n u d s e n , 1 99 2; Z u r a v i n , B e n e d i c t , & S o m e r f i e l d , 1993), h i g hrates o f a t t r i t i o n a m o n g f o s te r f a m i l i e s ( e .g . , B l o c k , 19 8 1 ; P a r d e c k , 1 9 83 ;Stone & S t o n e , 1983), a n d a d d i t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l i m p a i r m e n t o f f os te rc h i l d r e n r e s u l t i n g f r o m c o n t i n u e d s o c ia l a n d a c a d e m i c d i s r u p t i o n . T h ef a l l o u t f r o m fo s te r p a r e n t stress is f r e q u e n t l y o b s e r v e d by c o u n s e l l o r s w h op r o v i d e c l i n i c a l s e rv i ce s t o f o s te r f a m i l i e s a n d f o st e r c h i l d r e n . F o r e x a m p l e , s c h o o l c o u n s e l l o r s a r e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e e m o t i o n a l d i s t r e s s o ff os te r c h i l d r e n w h o e x p e r i e n c e m u l t i p l e f os te r f a m i l y a n d a c a d e m i cp l a c e m e n t s . S i m i l a r l y , c o u n s e l l o r s w h o w o r k i n t r e a t m e n t centres o rg r o u p h o m e s a r e a c c u s t o m e d t o t h e u n f o r t u n a t e a n d s e l f - d e f e a t i n gb e h a v i o u r s e x h i b i t e d by y o u n g s t e rs w h o ha v e b e e n r e m o v e d f r o m af o st e r f a m i l y o r w h o a r e a w a i t i n g f o st e r care p l a c e m e n t .

    A c c o r d i n g t o t h e l i t e r a t u r e , t h e r e a r e s y s t e m i c i m p l i c a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e dw i t h f o s t e r f a m i l y stress. I n a s t u d y o f e m o t i o n a l p r o b l e m s o f f o st e rc h i l d r e n i n r e l a t i o n t o m u l t i p l e p l a c e m e n t s i n ca r e , P a r d e c k (1983)f o u n d a p o s it i ve r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n m u l t i p l e p l a c e m e n t s a n d b e h a v i o u r a l p r o b l e m s . P r o c h a n d T a b e r (1987) e x a m i n e d a d o l e sc e n t p l ac e m e n t d i s r u p t i o n s a n d d e t e r m i n e d t h at i n o r d e r to p r e v e n t p l a c e m e n td i s r u p t i o n s , f o c u s m u s t b e p l a c e d o n t h e a b i l i t y o f care givers to betteru n d e r s t a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a l n e e d s o f t h e y o u n g p e r s o n . I n a n e m p i r i c a l s tudy, Stone a n d Stone (1983) i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e i n c i d e n c e a n d causeso f f o st er p l a c e m e n t d e t e r i o r a t i o n . F i n d i n g s f r o m th i s r e s e a r ch i n d i c a t e dt h a t f o s t e r p a r e n t s ' r a p p o r t w i t h p r o g r a m a d m i n i s tr a t o rs w as h i g h l yc o r r e l a t e d w i t h s u c c e s s fu l p l a c e m e n t . C o n s e q u e n t l y , f o s te r p a r e n t re s e a r c h i s c r i t i c a l f o r c o u n s e l l o r s i n t h e i r e ff o rt s t o r e m a i n p r o a c t i v e i np r e v e n t i n g o r r e d u c i n g care g i v e r stress a n d e n h a n c i n g c l i n i c a l s e r v i c e st o f o s t e r c h i l d r e n .

    T o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e c o u n s e l l i n g l i t e r a t u r e i n t h e a r e a o f f o s te r c a r e ,t h is p a p e r i n v e s t i g a t e d s t re s s fu l e ve n ts i d e n t i f i e d b y f o s te r p a r e n t s a n dd i sc us se s i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r c o u n s e l l o r s a n d c o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s . A d e -

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    Iti G r a h a m J o n e s a n d P a t r i c k J . M o r r i s s e t t e

    s c r i p t i o n o f t h e r e s e a r ch m e t h o d o l o g y t h a t w a s u t i l i z e d t o d e t e r m i n estressfu l events f o l l o w s .

    M E T H O DParticipantsF o s t e r p a r e n t s w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n th i s s tu d y w e r e m e m b e r s o f t h eA l b e r t a F o s t e r P a t e n t A s s o c i a t i o n . T h e n a m e s o f p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e p r o v i d e d b y t h e Al b e r t a F o s t e r P a re n t A sso c i a t i o n . A to t a l o f 15 6 fosterpa re n t s pa r t i c i pa t e d i n t h i s s t u d y .Demographic InformationT h e l e n g t h o f f o s t e r in g e x p e r i e n c e a m o n g p a r t i c ip a n t s w h o v o l u n t e e r e dfor th is s tudy ranged from 0 .5 years to 30 years . The greatest percentage(nine) o f foster p a r e n t s h a d three y e ar s o f e x p e r i e n c e . T h i r t y - t h r e e %h a d e x p e r i e n c e r a n g i n g f r o m t w o t o s e ve n y ea r s. I n te r m s o f p r o v i n c i a lfoster h o m e c l a s s if i c a t io n l e v el s, 6 2 % o f p a r t i c i p a n t s m e t th e a d v a n c e dc l a s s i f i c a t i o n ( d e s i g n e d t o meet th e needs o f c h i l d r e n w h o p re se n t w i t hs e ri o u s e m o t i o n a l o r b e h a v i o u r a l p r o b l e m s , m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , p h y s i ca lo r m e n t a l h a n d i c a p s a n d a re a t ri sk f o r r e q u i r i n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l care),f o l l o w e d b y 2 2 % a t t h e q u a l i f i e d l e v el (d e s i g n e d t o s er ve c h i l d r e n w h or e q u i r e b o t h d e v e l o p m e n t a l care a n d pro fe ss i o n a l re so u rc e s t o re so lv e o rmeet th e needs o f m o d e r a t e d i s a b i l i t i e s ) , 1 2 % a t t h e a p p r o v e d l e v el( d e s i g n e d t o assist c h i l d r e n w h o h a v e m i n o r d i s a b i l i t i e s o r w h o s e p r o b l e m s c a n b e re so l v e d w i t h q u a l i t y care a n d s p e c i f i c s u p p o r t s ) , a n d 3 % a tt h e s p e c i a l i z e d l e ve l ( d e s i g n e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e c h i l d r e n p r e s e n t i n gw i t h a m u l t i p l i c i t y o f p r o b l e m s th a t a r e f r e q u e n t , i n t e n s e, a n d e n d u r i n ga n d w o u l d o t h e r w i s e r e q u i r e p l a c e m e n t i n r e s i d e n t i a l t r e a t m e n t o r am e d i c a l f a c i l i ty ) . I n f o r m a t i o n p e r t a i n i n g to m a r i t a l status o f foster pa r ents i n d i c a t e d t h a t 8 7 % w e r e m a r r i e d a n d 61 % o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t sre p o r t e d t h a t t h e w i fe o r a s i n g l e f e m a l e w a s t h e pr i m a r y care p r o v i d e r .T h e a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f foster c h i l d r e n r e s i d i n g i n a foster h o m e w a s 2( 35 % ) a n d t h e n u m b e r o f b i o l o g i c a l c h i l d r e n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y r e s i d i n g i nth e foster h o m e w a s 1 (34%). T h e m a j o r i t y o f p a r t i c i p a n t s ( 6 0% ) r e s i d e di n a r u r a l a r e a .

    P R O C E D U R ER a t h e r t h a n r e l y i n g s o l e ly o n o n e r e s e a r c h o r i e n t a t i o n , t h is s tu d y e m p l o y e d b o t h a q u a n t i t a t i v e a n d q u a l i t a t i v e aspect i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e am o r e d e t a i l e d a n d t h o r o u g h o v e rv i ew . T o o b t a i n d a t a , th i s d u a l o r i e n t a t i o n w a s se l e c t e d i n o r d e r to ( a) a v o i d h a v i n g t h e pa r t i c i p a n t s f e e lp r e s s u r e d o r t h r e a t e n e d , ( b) g a i n a c o m p r e h e n s i v e l is t o f s tr e ss f ulevents , a n d (c ) g ive s ta t i s t i ca l or d er to d esc r ip t ive da ta .

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    F o s t e r P a r e n t Stress 17

    I n o r d e r to c o l l e c t the d a t a , a tw o -sta ge i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r i n g p r o ce s sw as u t i l i z e d . Th e first stage e n t a i l e d e l i c i t i n g statements of s tress fulevent s f ro m a r a n d o m s a m p le of 2 0 0 m e m b e r s of t h e A l b e r t a F o s t er C a r eA s s o c i a t i o n . S i x t y r e s p on s e s w e r e r e c e i v e d , w i t h a r e t u r n rate of 3 0 % . A ni n i t i a l i n t r o d u c t o r y l et te r a c c o m p a n i e d the first stage i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r i n g p r oc es s a n d i n c l u d e d : a s t a t e m e n t p e r t a i n i n g to the p u r p o s e andv o l u n t a r y n a t u r e of the s tudy, a r e q u e s t to id en t i f y s t ress f u l event s , a n d as ta t e m e n t r e g a r d i n g t h e a n o n y m i t y of t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s . Th e f irst gr ou p ofr e s e a r c h p a r t i c i p a n t s w a s p r o v i d e d w i t h a f o c u s s t a t e m e n t w h i c h r e a d :Please list the events offoster care that you find stressful. Try to be as clear aspossible [ i t a l i c s a d d e d ] . P a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d to generate as m a n ystatements as p o s s ib le t h a t rep res ent ed s t res s f u l event s i n t h e i r w o r k .These e v e n t s w e r e t h e n r e c o r d e d b y the a u t h o r s to create a r u n n i n g l is t.D u p l i c a t e s t r e s s f u l e v e n t s w e r e r e m o v e d f r o m the l i s t and s o m e statem e n t s w e r e a l s o r e - w o r d e d for c l a r i f i c a t i o n p u r p o s e s a n d to create a l i s tw h o s e l e n g t h w o u l d e n c o u r a g e p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h i s l is t was c a r e f u l l ye d i t e d by two e x p e r i e n c e d f o s t e r p a r e n t s p r i o r to the s e c o n d stage.D u r i n g t h i s l a t t e r p r o c e ss m i n o r c h a n g e s w e r e su g g e s t ed to the w o r d i n go f s evera l s t a t em ent s . For e x a m p l e , t h r e e statements i n i t i a l l y r e a d : (a)S o c i a l w o r k er s q u i t t i n g t h e i r job and m o v i n g , and (b) W o r k e r s a l w a y sb e i n g r e p l a c e d w i t h n e w o n e s . These statements w e re c o m b i n e d to r e a d :R a p i d c h a n g e o v e r of c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s .

    T h e s e c o n d stage of the i n f o r m a t i o n - g a t h e r i n g p r oc es s i n v o l v e d thed e v e l o p m e n t of a q u e s t i o n n a i r e , b a s e d on the speci f ic s t ress ful eventst h at w e r e i d e n t i f i e d b y the fi rst gr o u p . It s h o u l d be u n d e r s c o r e d t h a t thes e c o n d g r o u p of p a r t i c i p a n t s p r o d u c e d the d a t a t h a t w a s a n a l y z e d i n t h isstudy. A p p r o x i m a t e l y two m o n t h s f o l l o w i n g r e c e i p t of the i n i t i a l res p o ns es the a c t u a l q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s m a i l e d to a n o t h e r 200 m e m b e r s .N i n e t y - t w o c o m p l e t e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e r e t u r n e d , w i t h a r e t u r n rateo f 4 6 % . A l e t te r e x p l a i n i n g t h e s tu d y , i ts v o l u n t a r y n a t u r e , a n d p a r t i c i p a n ta n o n y m i t y w a s a g a i n i n c l u d e d . In ac t ua l i t y , the o n l y instrument [ i ta l icsa d d e d ] t h a t w a s u s e d w a s the q u e s t i o n n a i r e t h a t w a s d e v e l o p e d to c o l l e c tt h e d a t a . T h e s e c o n d g r o u p of p a r t ic i p a n t s p r o v i d e d d e m o g r a p h i c i n f o r m a t i o n and d i d not i d e n t i f y any a d d i t i o n a l s t re s sf u l e v en t s a s i d e f r o mt h o se t h a t h a d a lr e a d y b e e n l i s t e d . P a r t i c i p a n t s i n the s e c o n d g r o u p w e rei n f o r m e d t h a t t h e s t ress f u l event s th a t w ere l i s t ed h a d b e en ge ne ra t ed b yf o s t er p arent s w i t h i n t h e i r a s s o c ia t i o n . T h e y w e r e t h e n a s k e d to rate t h e i rstress l e v e l a n d f r e q u e n c y of i n v o l v e m e n t i n the e v e n t s d e s c r i b e d by thefirst g r o u p . P r i o r i t y a s s i g n e d to the stress l e v e l of the event , as w e l l as thef r e q u e n c y of the e v e n t , w e r e e a c h d o n e on a f ive-point L ikert sca le .C a t e g o r i e s o n the L i k e r t s c a l e for stress l ev e l r a n k i n g i n c l u d e d ( 1 ) nots tress ful , (2) very l i t t le stress, (3) m o d e r a t e l e v e l of stress, (4) verys t res s f u l , and (5) e x t r e m e l y s t r e s s f u l . C a t e g o r i e s o n the L i k e r t s c a l e forf r e q u e n c y r a t i n g i n c l u d e d : (1) n e v e r o c c u r s , (2) r a r e l y o c c u r s , (3) o c c a -

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    18 G r a h a m J o n e s a n d P a t r i c k J . M o r r i s s e t t e

    s i o n a l l y o c c u r s , (4) o c c u r s q u i t e o f t e n , and (5) o c c u r s f r e q u e n t l y . Th ef o c u s s t a t e m e n t for the s e c o n d q u e s t i o n n a i r e r e a d : As a foster parent youare asked to rate thefollowing stressful events and the frequency with which thesestressful events occur by circling the appropriate response [ i t a l i c s a d d e d ] .S t res s f u l event s t h a t were ranked on the L i k e r t s c a l e by the s e c o n dg r o u p of p a r t ic i p a n t s w e re c o m p i l e d i n t o a l is t a c c o r d i n g to the p r i o r i t yof the s t ress ful event and its c o r r e s p o n d i n g f r e q u e n c y . D e s c r i p t i v e sta ti st ic s (m e a n s , s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n s a n d f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n s ) w e r e c a l c u l a t e d f o r p a r t i c i p a n t s ' r e p o r t s of t h e p r i o r i t y of the s t ress ful event and oft h e f r e q u e n c y . Th e m e a n scores for b o t h the f r e q u e n c y and p r i o r i t yr a t i n g s w e r e r a n k o r d e r e d to p res ent re la t ive p a t t e rns .Extraction of ThemesT h e p r o c e s s of e x t r a c t i n g t h e m e s w a s c o n d u c t e d by b o t h a u t h o r s . Thef i rs t author has o v e r ten years of e x p e r i e n c e as a f o s t e r p a r e n t a n d is ag r a d u a t e s t u d e n t in the field of e d u c a t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g y . Th e s e c o n da u t h o r is a p r o f e s s o r in the field of c o u n s e l l i n g w i t h t went y years ofe x p e r i e n c e i n w o r k i n g w i t h f o st e r c h i l d r e n a n d th e i r f a m i l i e s . F o l l o w i n ga care f u l rev iew of the p a r t i c i p a n t s ' r a n k i n g of stressful events , thea u t h o r s d e t e r m i n e d th a t a n u m b e r o f e m e r g e n t t h e m e s w e r e r e f l e c te d i nt h e d a t a . Th e e x t r a c t i o n pr oc e ss i n c l u d e d e a c h a u t h o r i n d e p e n d e n t l yr e v i e w i n g al l of the stressful events and i d e n t i f y i n g th e m e s w h i c h theyp e r c e i v e d as e m e r g i n g f r o m the d a t a . F o l l o w i n g t h i s p ro ces s , b o t h aut h o r s met to c o m p a r e t h e i r fin d in gs, d i s cu s s t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n t d e c i s io ns , and agree on the v a r i o u s t h e m e s t h a t t h e y c o n s i d e r e d to ber e f l e c t e d i n the d a t a . These t h e m e s w e r e b a s e d on the i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i po f the id ent i f i ed s t res s f u l event s . For e x a m p l e , e v e n t s t h a t r e l a t e d toa c a d e m i c m a t t e rs w e r e c l a ss i fi e d u n d e r A c a d e m i c Issues.

    T o e n h a n c e c r e d i b i l i t y for the q u a l i t a t i v e aspect of this study, a t r i a n g u l a t i o n p r o ce s s w a s c o n d u c t e d . T h i s p r o ce s s i n v o l v e d tw o e x p e r i e n c e df o s t e r p a r e n t s w h o h a d a c o m b i n e d e x p e r i e n c e of o v e r 20 y e a r s a n d ano u t s i d e h e l p i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l w h o h a d e x te n s i ve e x p e r i e n c e i n the a r e a offos ter care a d m i n i s t r a t io n . E a c h i n d i v i d u a l r e v i e w e d the l i s t of s tress fule v en t s a n d t h e m e s , s u g g e s te d m i n o r r e v i s i o n s , a n d v a l i d a t e d the l i s t . Th eo r d e r of the f o l l o w i n g t h e m e s is not an i n d i c a t i o n of t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e .R a t h e r , the t h e m a t i c a n a l y s i s is p r e s e n t e d as a w ay of a g g r e g a t i n g andp r e s e n t i n g the d a t a i n an o r d e r l y m a n n e r f o r c l os e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . F r o mthe outset , it s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t a t t e m p t i n g to d e s i g n a t e e v e n t s u n d e rs p ec i f i c t h em es was a s u b je c t iv e a n d c h a l l e n g i n g ta s k a n d i s n o t d e f i n i t i v eb y any m e a n s . Due to the n a t u r e and s i m i l a r i t y of s o m e r e s p o n s e s , it isc o n c e d e d t h a t the c u r r e n t a n a ly s is m a y be d i s p u t e d a n d t h e r e f o r e , r e s u lti n a t h e m a t i c r e - c o n f i g u r a t i o n . A l t h o u g h the c u r r e n t a n a ly s is s h o u l d bep e r c e i v e d s a g a c i o u s l y , it serves to p r o v i d e a s t a r t i n g p o i n t to inves t iga t ef o s t e r p a r e n t stress.

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    F o s t e r P a r e n t Stress 19

    R E S U L T SStress ful events w i t h i n e a c h t h e m e a r e o r g a n i z e d i n o r d e r f r o m h i g h e s t tolo w es t d eg ree o f stress a n d o n l y t h os e e ve n ts d e m o n s t r a t i n g a m e a n s c o r eo f t h ree or h i g h e r o n the f ive-point L i k e r t scale w i l l be a d d r e s s e d . T h i s isn o t an i n d i c a t i o n t h a t the o t h er event s are less i m p o r t a n t (a c o m p l e t es tat is t ica l analys is o f the s t ress ful events c an be o b t a i n e d f r o m th e s e c o n da u t h o r ) .Theme #1: Foster Parents-Foster Child RelationshipT h e m o s t s t res s f u l event s w i t h i n t hi s t h e m e i n c l u d e d (a) r e t u r n i n gc h i l d r e n to a p e r c e i v e d d y s f u n c t i o n a l h o m e , (b) w i t n e s s i n g c h i l d r e nleave fos ter care p r e m a t u r e l y , (c) g r i e v i n g the d e p a r t u r e of fos ter c h i l d r e n , (d) h a v i n g to t e ll c h i l d r e n t h a t th e y c a n n o t see t h e i r s i b l i n g s , (e)c o n t i n u o u s l y t e a c h i n g b a s i c v a l u e s and p e r s o n a l h y g i e n e to c h i l d r e n ,a n d (f) i n e l i g i b i l i t y of c h i l d r e n for a d o p t i o n a f t e r b e i n g i n l o n g - t e r mf o s t er care .Theme #2: Foster Child-Biological Family RelationshipA s i n d i c a t e d i n the d at a , s evera l f ac t o rs re la t ed to the c o n f l i c t b e t w e e nf os te r c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l p a r e n t s c o n t r i b u t e to f o s t e r p a r e n tstress. T h e t w o m o s t s t re s sf u l e v en t s i n c l u d e d d e a l i n g w i t h f os te r c h i l d r e nw h e n they are d i s a p p o i n t e d by t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l p a r e n t s a nd b i o l o g i c a lp a r e n t s not a p p e a r i n g for s c h e d u l e d v i s i t s w i t h f o s t e r c h i l d r e n .Theme #3: Foster Parents-Biological Family RelationshipsT h e m o s t s t res s f u l event w i t h i n t h i s t h e m e r e l a t e d to the p o o r e m o t i o n a la n d p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n of c h i l d r e n r e t u r n i n g f r o m a h o m e vis i t . Th ep e r c e p t i o n t h a t b i o l o g i c a l p a r e n t s w e r e not r e m a i n i n g r e s p o n s i b l e , orb e i n g h e l d a c c o u n t a b l e , f o r the p r o p e r care of t h e i r c h i l d r e n w as i d e n t i fi ed as t h e s eco n d m o s t st res s fu l . T h e t h i r d m o s t s t res s f u l event p er t a inedt o f o s t e r p a r e n t s f e e l i n g c a u g h t b e t w e e n c h i l d wel f are rep res ent a t ivesa n d b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s . F i n a l l y , the p o o r q u a l i t y a n d q u a n t i t y of c l o t h i n gr e t u r n e d w i t h c h i l d r e n f o l l o w i n g a h o m e v i s i t w a s i d e n t i f i e d as t h e f o u r t hmost s t ress ful event .Theme #4: Foster Parents-Child Welfare Worker RelationshipI n c o n t r a s t to the o t h e r s t a t e d t h e m e s , a s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b e r of eventsa p p e a r e d to f a l l i n t o the f os te r p a r e n t s - c h i l d w e l fa r e w o r k e r r e l a t i o n s h i pt h e m e ; 12 event s were c l as s i f i ed in t h i s t h em e . Th e most s t ress ful eventsw i t h i n t hi s t h e m e i n c l u d e d (a) c h i l d w e l fa r e w o r k e r d e c i s i o n s t h a t d i dn o t a p p e a r t o be i n t h e best in t e res t o f c h i l d r e n , (b) c h i l d w e l fa r e w o r k e r sb e l i e v i n g f os te r c h i l d r e n w i t h o u t c o n f i r m i n g w i t h f o s t er p arent s ,

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    20 G r a h a m J o n e s a n d P a t r i c k J . M o r r i s s e t t e

    (c ) d e c i s i o n s m a d e by i n e x p e r i e n c e d c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s , (d) l a c k ofc h i l d w e lf ar e w o r k e r s ' u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d c o o p e r a t i o n , (e) c h i l d w e l f a r ew o r k e r s o v e r r u l i n g f o st e r p a r e n t s a u t h o r i t y , (f) p o o r c o m m u n i c a t i o nb e t w e e n c h i l d w e l fa r e w o r k e r a n d f o s te r p a r e n t s , (g) c h i l d w e lf ar e w o r k e rn o t f o l l o w i n g u p on requests , (h) u n r e a s o n a b l e d e c i s i o n s m a d e b y c h i l dw e l f a r e w o r k e r s , (i) f o s t e r p a r e n t ' s d e c i s i o n s u n d e r m i n e d by c h i l d w e l f a re w o r k e r s , (j) c h i l d w e l fa r e w o r k e r s t r e a t i n g f o s te r p a r e n t s l i k e c l i e n t s ,(k ) u n r e a s o n a b l e d e m a n d s m a d e by c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s .Theme #5: Foster Child Aggression Toward Others and PropertyF o st er c h i l d r e n ' s m a n i p u l a t i v e , i m p u l s i v e , a n d a g g r e s s i v e b e h a v i o u r c o n t r i b u t e d to f o s t e r p a r e n t stress in s evera l ways . Th e most s t ress ful eventsi n c l u d e d (a) a g g r e s s i v e b e h a v i o u r of c h i l d r e n , (b) d e s t r u c t i o n of fos terp a r e n t p r o p e r t y , (c) m a n i p u l a t i v e b e h a v i o u r o f c h i l d r e n , (d) i n a p p r o p r i a t e s e x u a l b e h a v i o u r of c h i l d r e n , (e) t e m p e r t a n t r u m s of a d o l e s c e n tc h i l d r e n , (f) c h i l d r e n w a n t i n g f r e e d o m bu t not w a n t i n g to a s s u m e res p o ns i b i l i ty , (g) a l l e g a t i o n s a nd i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of abuse against fos terf a m i l y m e m b e r s , (h) h a v i n g to r e m o v e c h i l d r e n f r o m p u b l i c s it u a ti on sd u e to i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e h a v i o u r , (i) c h i l d r e n s t e a l i n g , a n d (j) c h i l d r e np h y s i c a l l y a b u s i n g m e m b e r s of the f o s t e r f a m i l y .

    Theme #6: Academic IssuesS t r e s s f u l , a c a d e m i c a l l y r e l a t e d e v e n t s c o n c e r n e d s c h o o l p r o b l e m s a n d /o r s u s p e n s i o n s .Theme #7: Emotional Instability of th e Foster ChildF o s te r c h i l d r e n ' s o v e r a l l p o o r e m o t i o n a l d i s p o s i t i o n a n d s e lf -d e f e a ti n gb e h a v i o u r s , t ha t i n f l u e n c e d n o r m a l b e h a v i o u r a l p a tt er n s c o n t r i b u t e d tof o s t e r p a r e n t stress. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , these e v e n t s i n c l u d e d (a) disr u p t e d s l e e p i n g h a b i t s of c h i l d r e n , (b) c h i l d r e n r u n n i n g aw ay, a n d (c)s ub s t ance ab us e .Theme #8: Foster Parent Well-beingS t res s f u l event s t h a t in f luenced t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f f o st e r p a r e n t s p e r t a i n e dto three d is t inct i ssues i n c l u d i n g (a) the l a c k of r e s p i t e a n d r e l i e f c a r e ,( b) f o s t er fa m i l y m a i n t a i n i n g s o m e p e r s o n a l l i f e (e . g. , v a c a t i o n t i m e ) ,a n d (c) i s o l a t i o n a n d a l i e n a t i o n w i t h i n t h e i r o w n c o m m u n i t i e s due toc h i l d r e n ' s i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e h a v i o u r .Theme #9: Administrative IssuesW h e n c o m p a r e d to the most s t ress ful events , a l a r g e r n u m b e r of eventsa p p e a r e d to fit w i t h i n the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e i ss ue s t h e m e t h a n w a s t r u e for

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    Foster P a r e n t Stress 2 1

    t h e o t h e r themes; 17 events w e re c l a ss i f i e d w i t h i n th is theme w h i l e t h el a r g e s t n u m b e r a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o t h e r themes was 12. These i n c l u d e d ( a )r a p i d c h a n g e o v e r o f c h i l d w e lf a re w o r k e r s , (b ) c h a n g i n g foster carep o l i c i e s w i t h n o i n p u t f r o m foster p a r e n t s , ( c) r e m o v a l o f c h i l d r e n f r o mo n e foster h o m e a n d p l a c i n g t h e m w i t h a n o t h e r foster f a m i l y , ( d ) c h i l dw e l f a r e w o r k e r s a s s u m i n g t o o m u c h p o w e r , ( e ) d e a l i n g w i t h financialissues i n v o l v i n g c h i l d r e n , (f) i n c o n s i s te n c i e s o f c h i l d w e lf a re w o r k e rsr e g a r d i n g f o s t e r i n g p o l i c i e s , (g ) d e a l i n g w i t h l ega l i ssues , a n d (h) accu rate r e c o r d i n g f o r d a i l y foster f a m i l y j o u r n a l s . W h a t a p p e a r e d t o emergef r o m th e statements r e g a r d i n g s t r e s s f u l events in th is area p e r t a i n e d t oa n a p p a r e n t l a c k o f c o n s is t en c y a n d u n i t y a m o n g c h i l d w e lf a re a d m i n i s t ra t o rs , c h i l d w e lf a r e w o r k e r s , a n d foster pa re n t s . As re f l e c t e d i n t h ei d e n t i f i e d events, foster p a r e n t s d e s c r i b e d a we-they [ i t a l i c s a d d e d ] scen a r i o that r e s u l t e d i n foster p a r e n t s f e e l i n g u n i m p o r t a n t a n d i g n o r e d .

    Theme #10: Communication IssuesFoster p a r e n t s r e p o r t e d stress a sso c i a t e d w i t h t h e i n a d e q u a t e o r excessivecontact b e t w e e n foster c h i l d r e n a n d d e l e g a te d c h i l d w e lf a re w o r k e r s . F o re x a m pl e , s t re ss fu l events i n c l u d e d (a ) p o o r f o l l o w - u p b e t w e e n c h i l d r e na n d foster p a r en t s f o l l o w i n g p l a c e m e n t b r e a k d o w n , (b ) c h i l d w e lf a rew o r k e r s a s k i n g c h i l d r e n l e a d i n g q u e s ti o n s , a n d (c) foster p a r e n t telep h o n e c a ll s n o t b e i n g r e t u r n e d b y c h i l d w e lf a re w o r k e r s . A c c o r d i n g t ot h e d a t a , i n a d e q u a t e contact was a s t ressfu l event that w a s m o r e f re q u e n t l y e x p e r i e n c e d . I t c o u l d b e h y p o t h e s i z e d that w h e n i n a d e q u a t econtact o c c u r r e d , t h e foster p a r e n t s h a v e to c o n t e n d w i t h a c h i l d ' sd i s p l e a s u r e a n d c o n t i n u a l requests to meet w i t h h i s o r h e r c h i l d w e l f a r ew o r k e r .

    Theme #11: Clinical IssuesA g e n e r a l sense o f f e e l i n g e x c l u d e d f r o m c h i l d r e n ' s treatment p l a n w a sa p p a r e n t f r o m t h e l is t o f s tr e ss f ul ev e n ts . E x a m p l e s i n c l u d e d (a ) n o tb e i n g p r o v i d e d w i t h b a c k g r o u n d i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g c h i l d r e n , (b )c h i l d r e n b e i n g r e m o v e d f r o m foster h o m e s w i t h o u t t h e i r u n d e r l y i n gneeds b e i n g a d e q u a t e l y a d d r e s s e d , (c ) b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l y visits that a re n o ta r r a n g e d i n t h e best interest o f c h i l d r e n , (d ) i n d i v i d u a l needs o f c h i l d r e nn o t b e i n g m e t , (e) c h i l d w e lf a re w o r k e r s n o t f o l l o w i n g t h r o u g h o n casep l a n s , a n d ( f) n o t b e i n g g i v e n d e t a i ls a b o u t c h i l d r e n - c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e rm e e t i n g s .

    A d d i t i o n a l themes i n c l u d e d P l a n n i n g / S c h e d u l i n g Issues a n d T r a i n i n g Issues. H o w e v e r , these events s c o r e d b e l o w three o n th e five-pointL i k e r t scale a n d t h e r e f o r e , w i l l n o t b e d i sc u sse d .

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    22 G r a h a m J o n e s a n d P a t r i c k J . M o r r i s s e t t e

    D I S C U S S I O NT h e p u rp o s e o f t h i s s t ud y was t o id en t i f y s t ress f u l events re p o r t e d b yf o s t er p aren t s an d t o d i s cus s t h e im p l i c a t io n s t h i s d a t a h as f o r co un s e l lo r sa n d c o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s . A s d e m o n s t r a t e d i n t h is s tu d y , f o st e r p a r e n t se n c o u n t e r a m y r i a d o f s t re s sf u l e ve n ts t h a t v ar y i n d e g r e e a n d f r e q u e n c ya n d are no t res t r i c t ed t o any o ne facet o f care p r o v i s i o n .

    A rev iew o f t h e t o p t en m o s t st res sf u l events revea led i n t eres t in gfindings. F o r e x a m p l e , i t a p p e a r s t h a t stress i s m o s t p r e v a l e n t r e g a r d i n ga d m i n i s t r a t i v e i ss ues . I n o t h er w o rd s , i t i s no t t h e d i re c t d a i l y care o fc h i l d r e n t h a t fo s t er p aren t s find most s t ress ful but rather , i t i s the impacto f c h i l d w e lf ar e p o l i c y a n d p r o b l e m a t i c c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e m selves and c h i l d w e l fa r e r e p r e se n t a t i v e s. I t s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d , h o w e ve r, t h a t ev e n ts p e r t a i n i n g t o c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s w e r ea l so i d e n t i f i e d a s h i g h l y s t re s s fu l . F u r t h e r m o r e , a h i g h d e g r e e o f stressw a s r e l a t e d t o c h i l d r e n ' s a g g r e s s i o n a n d t h e u n a v a i l a b i l i t y o f res p i t e andr e l i e f c a r e .

    In t e rm s o f t h e f req uen cy o f s t ress f u l events id en t i f i ed b y f o s t er p ar ent s , t h ere i s s o m e o ve r lap w i t h t h o s e event s id en t i f i e d as m o s t s t ress f u l .F o r e x a m p l e , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n re l a t e d i ssu es a r e n o t o n l y i d e n t i f i e d ash i g h l y s tr e s sf u l b u t a r e a l so i d e n t i f i e d as o c c u r r i n g w i t h a h i g h d e g r e e o ff r e q u e n c y . I n a d d i t i o n , stress p e r t a i n i n g to c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r b i o l o g i c a lf a m i l i e s a n d t h e u n a v a i l a b i l i t y o f r e s p i t e a n d r e l i e f care were a lso eventst h a t o c c u r r e d f r e q u e n t l y . A p e r c e i v e d l a c k o f s u p p o r t f r o m c h i l d w e l f a r ew o r k e r s ( e .g . , h a v i n g t h e i r a u t h o r i t y o v e r r u l e d b y c h i l d w e lf a r e w o r k e r s ,t h e i r d e c i si o n s b e i n g u n d e r m i n e d b y c h i l d w e l fa r e w o r k e r s ) m a y a m p l i f yf o s te r p a r e n t s ' e x p e r i e n c e o f d i s r e s p e c t . W h a t n e e d s t o b e a p p r e c i a t e dis th e v i t a l ro le f o st er p are nt s p lay in t h e l ives o f f o s ter c h i l d re n a n dt h e i r b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s . A s d e m o n s t r a t e d i n t h e fin d in gs, t h e e m o t i o n a ln e e d s o f f os te r p a re n t s r e q u i r e c on s t a n t a t t e n t i o n . S t o n e m a n a n d C r a p p s(1988) u n d e r s c o r e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c u l t i v a t i n g s o c ia l s u p p o r t re s o u r c es f o r c a r e g i v i n g f a m i l i e s . These a u t h o r s state that negat ive at t i t u d e s o f n e i g h b o r s , f o r e x a m p l e , w e r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a d d e d stress a n dd i m i n i s h e d c o n f i d e n c e o f c a r e g i v i n g f a m i l i e s . A s i n d i c a t e d i n t h is c u rren t s tud y , f o s ter p aren t s exp er i en ce stress w h e n t h e y find t h em s e lvess o c i a l l y i s o la t e d d u e to th e i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e h a v i o u r o f c h i l d r e n . W h a tr e m a i n s u n c l e a r , h o w e v e r, is w h e t h e r f o st e r p a r en t s i n t e n t i o n a l l y w i t h d r a w f r o m s o c i a l s u p p o r t s o r i f i t is f r i e n d s a n d r e l a ti v e s w h o d i s t a n c et h e m s e l v es f r o m t h e c a r e g i v i n g f a m i l y .

    A no t ab le d ivergence b e t ween t h e m o s t s t res s f u l event s and t h o s el i s ted as o c c u r r i n g f r eq u e n t l y , p e r t a i n e d t o c h i l d r e n ' s b e h a v i o u r . M o r espe c i f i c a l l y , a l t h o u g h e v e n t s r e l a t i n g t o c h i l d r e n ' s b e h a v i o u r s w e r e r e p o r t e d w i t h a h i g h d e g r e e o f f r e q u e n c y , i n g e n e r a l t h ey w e r e r e p o r t e d a sb e i n g less s tress ful .

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    F o s t e r P a r e n t Stress 23

    T h e fin d in gs o f t h i s s t u d y h a v e d i re c t i m pl i c a t i o n s fo r c o u n se l l o rs a n dc o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s t h a t i n v o l v e d i r e c t s e rv i ce a n d t r a i n i n g . F o r e x a m ple, foster p a r e n t s i n t h i s s a m p l e i n d i c a t e t h a t i n t e n s e i n t e r v e n t i o n w i t hfoster c h i l d r e n (e.g., t e a c h i n g p e r s o n a l h y g i e n e , p r o c e s s i n g l o s s a n d g r i e fi s su e s, d i f fu s i n g v i o l e n t b e h a v i o u r ) i s s t re ss fu l . K n o w i n g t h a t foster pa r ents a r e i n t e r v e n i n g w i t h e m o t i o n a l l y a n d b e h a v i o u r a l l y d i s t u r b e d c h i l d r e n a ro u n d a v a r i e t y o f i s su e s , a s w e l l as w i t h the larger system (e.g.,s c h o o l ) , i n d i c a t e s t h a t a d d i t i o n a l t r a i n i n g a n d s u p p o r t is r e q u i r e d to gi vet h e m t h e necessary ski l l s . S t o n e m a n a n d C r a p p s (1988) f o u n d t h a tc a r e g i v i n g f a m i l i e s w h o r e c e i v e d t r a i n i n g r e p o r t e d less c l i e n t - r e l a t e dstress t h a n d i d those w i t h o u t t r a i n i n g .

    T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n foster p a r e n t s a n d b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s is a ls oan i ss ue t h a t i s i d e n t i f i e d a s h i g h l y s tr e ss f ul a n d o c c u r r i n g f r e q u e n t l y . T obetter assist foster c h i l d r e n , i t is r e c o m m e n d e d th a t foster parents ex p a n d t h e i r r e a l m o f care t o i n c l u d e b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s (e.g., K u f e l d t &A l l i s o n , 1 9 9 0 ; K u f e l d t , 1982). C o n se q u e n t l y , t h e c l i e n t sy s t e m w i l l i n c l u d e n o t o n l y foster c h i l d r e n b u t t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i es as w e l l . T h i ssh i f t i n fo c u s , h o w e v e r , i s n o t e a s i l y m a d e a n d c l a r i t y re g a rd i n g ro l ee x p e c t a t i o n s is e s s e n ti a l . I n t h e i r r e s e a r c h , S t o n e m a n a n d C r a p p s (1988)re po r t t h a t t h e l a c k o f c l a r i ty r e g a r d i n g r o l e e x p e c t a t i o n s w a s c i t e d as t h em o s t i m p o r t a n t stress e x p e r i e n c e d b y c a r e g i v i n g f a m i l i e s.

    F o s t e r pa re n t s m a y b e re l u c t a n t t o e x t e n d se rv i c es t o b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l ies for a var ie ty of reasons (e.g., b e c o m i n g o v e r w h e l m e d w i t h a d d i t i o n a lr es p o ns i b i l i ty , o v e r - r e a c h i n g t h e i r e x p e r t i s e , t h e i r d i s c o m f o r t w i t h b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s ) . T r a d i t i o n a l l y , t h e i r fo c u s h a s b e e n foster c h i l d - c e n t r e d a n de x p a n d i n g these p a r a m e t e r s w i l l i n v o l v e t i m e , c o m m i t m e n t , a n d a d d i t i o n a l t r a i n i n g . C o u n s e l l o r s t r a i n e d i n f a m i l y s ys te m s t h e o r y m a y p r o v e t ob e i n v a l u a b l e i n t h e i r e f fo r t s t o b r i d g e t h e g a p b e t w e e n these tw o g r o u p s .A l t h o u g h i t m a y b e a v e r y d e m a n d i n g t a s k , c o u n s e l l o r s c a n w o r k t o w a r de d u c a t i n g foster pa re n t s i n sa l i e n t i ssu es su c h as a t t a c h m e n t , l o ss , a n df a m i l y l o y a l t i e s .R e su l t s f ro m t h i s s t u d y suggest t h a t there is c o n c e r n a b o u t th e c o m p e tency of b i o l o g i c a l p a r e n t s t o r e s u m e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n . F o re x a m p l e , le a r n i n g th a t c h i l d r e n w i l l b e re t u r n e d t o w h a t is pe rc e i v e d a s ad y s f u n c t i o n a l h o m e h a s b e e n i d e n t i f i e d as v e r y s t re s s fu l a n d o c c u r r i n gf r e q u e n t l y . T h i s p a r t i c u l a r finding relates t o L i p t o n ' s (1997) s t u d y i n d i c a t i n g t h a t foster caretakers w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e s u p p o r t i v e t o c h i l d r e n t h a n b i o l o g i c a l caretakers f o l l o w i n g t h e d i sc l o su r e o f se x u a l a b u se .T o a v o i d a n i m o s i t y b e t w e e n foster p a r e n t s a n d b i o l o g i c a l p a r e n t s , fosterp a r e n t s m a y n e e d t o g a i n a better u n d e r s t a n d i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e c i r c u m stances a n d e m o t i o n a l d i s p o s i t i o n o f f a m i l i e s w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s . L i k e w i s e , b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s m a y r e q u i r e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e ro l e o ffoster p a r e n t s . C o u n s e l l o r e f fo r ts t o n u r t u r e r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n b i o -

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    2 4 G r a h a m J o n e s a n d P a t r i c k J . M o r r i s s e t t e

    l o g i c a l a n d f o s te r f a m i l i e s a r e n e c e ss a r y t o p r o t e c t f o s t er c h i l d r e n f r o mb e i n g c a u g h t b e t w e e n these t w o g r o u p s .

    I n th e a u t h o r s ' o p i n i o n , d e t a i le d b a c k g r o u n d i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n gf o st e r c h i l d r e n m u s t b e p r o v i d e d t o f o st er p a r e n t s a n d t re a t m e n t p l a n sn e e d to b e u n d e r s t o o d w h e n w o r k i n g t o w a r d a p o s i t i v e o u t c o m e w i t hfos ter c h i l d r e n . A g a i n , c o u n s e l l o r s c a n b e i n s t r u m e n t a l i n h e l p i n g f o st erp a r e n t s a r t i c u l a t e a n d a d m i n i s t e r t r e a t m e n t p l a n s . I t is i m p e r a t i v e t h a tc o u n s e l l o r s c o n s i d e r h o w t h e y c a n e f f e c t i v e l y c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h fos terp a r en t s a n d a c c o m m o d a t e t h e i r n e e d s w h i l e f u l f i l l i n g t r e a t m e n t p l a n s .

    I n c r ea s e d c o o p e r a t i o n a m o n g h e l p i n g p r o fe s si o n a ls m a y r e d u c e th ep r o b a b i l i t y o f f o s t e r c h i l d r e n p l a y i n g o n e p r o f e s s i o n a l s ys te m a g a i n s ta n o t h e r . W h e n c o o p e r a t i o n i s l a c k i n g , m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g c a n d e v e l o pa n d f o s t e r p l a c e m e n t s c a n d e t e r i o r a t e . T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e dw i t h t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n a n d d i s s o l u t i o n o f f o st e r p l a c e m e n t s c a n i n c l u d eh e i g h t e n e d f o s t e r c h i l d a n d f o st e r f a m i l y d i s tr e ss a n d i n t e r r u p t i o n s i n t h ey o u n g p e r s o n ' s e d u c a t i o n a n d s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , f o s t e r c h i l d r e n m a y e x p e r i e n c e f u r t h e r e m o t i o n a l i n s t a b i l i ty as a r e su l t o f m u l t i p l ep l a c e m e n t s a n d u n d e r l y i n g issu es t h a t r e m a i n u n r e s o l v e d .

    B as ed o n f indings f r o m th is s tudy, i t ap pea rs that focu s ne ed s to bep l a c e d o n t r a i n i n g c o u n s e l l o r s t o h e l p f o st er p a r e n t s a n d c h i l d w e l f a r er e p re s e n ta t iv e s c o m m u n i c a t e a n d c o l l a b o r a t e i n t h e best interes ts o fc h i l d r e n . A l o n g these l i n e s , i n t r o d u c i n g c o n c e p t s o f c o n s u l t a t i o n t h a tc o u n s e l l o r s m i g h t e m p l o y c o u l d b e b e n e f i c i a l . M o r r i s s e tt e (1996) f o ri n s t a n c e , d e sc r i be s h o w c o u n s e l l o r s c a n e x p a n d t h e i r p r a c t i c e p a r a m e ters and s erve as co ns u l t ant s t o f o s t er f am i l i es and c h i l d w e l f a r e r e p r e s en t a ti v es t o m e d i a t e d i s a g r e e m e n t s a n d c o n f l i c t s . C o u n s e l l o r s a n dc o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s m a y b e u n d e r t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e f o c u s o fc o u n s e l l i n g in f o s t er care w i l l center o n t h e b e h a v i o u r o f c h i l d r e n a n dm e n d i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l f a m i l i e s . A l t h o u g h t h i s m ayb e t rue , a cc o r d in g t o t h i s s t ud y ' s find ings, t h e i r in t er ve n t io n m ay b em o r e n e e d e d a t a d i f f e r e n t le v e l . K n o w i n g h o w t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h o t h e rp r o f e s s i o n a l s i n t h e la r g e r s y st em , c o u n s e l l o r s c a n m e d i a t e a n d i n t e r p r e ti n f o r m a t i o n f o r f o s t er p are nt s . C o u n s e l lo rs ca n a l so ad v o ca t e f o r f o s t erp a r e n t s a n d s u p p o r t t h e i r e f f o r t s d u r i n g case c o n f er e n c e s a n d c l i n i c a lm e e t i n g s .

    E d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s d e s i g n e d t o a s s i s t c o u n s e l l o r s a p p r e c i a t e t h eres p o ns ib i l i t i e s and ro ut ines o f f o s t er p arent s ap p ear t o b e es s ent ia l t ot h e w e l l - b e i n g o f fo s te r c h i l d r e n . F i n d i n g s f r o m t h is st ud y m a y be u s e f u lt o c o u n s e l l o r e d u c a t o r s as t h e y p r e p a r e a s p i r i n g c o u n s e l l o r s i n betteru n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e c o m p l e x a n d e v o l v i n g n a t u r e o f f o st er c a r e . M o r espe c i f i c a l l y , h e l p i n g c o u n s e l l i n g s tu d e n t s b e c o m e a w a r e o f f os te r p a r e n tstress, a n d t h e f a r - r e a c h i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s a s s o c i a te d w i t h th is stress,is c o n s i d e r e d u s e f u l . I n a d d i t i o n , t h is st u d y m i g h t b e i n s t r u m e n t a l

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    M o r r i s s e t t e , P. (1992). T r e a t m e n t foster care: B r i d g i n g t r o u b l e d waters. Journal of Family Psychot herapy, 3, 55-73.

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    About th e AuthorsG r a h a m Jones , B . E d . , i s a g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t , D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n a l Ps y c h o l o g y , U n i v e r s i t yo f A l b e r t a .P a t r i c k J . M o rr i s s e t t e , P h . D . , N C C , L C P C , is A s s i s t a n t P r o fe s s o r, D e p a r t m e n t o f C o u n s e l i n g a n dH u m a n S e r v i c e s , M o n t a n a State U n i v e r s i t y - B i l l i n g s .A d d r e s s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t o: D r . P a t r i c k J . M o r r i ss e t te , D e p a r t m e n t o f C o u n s e l i n g a n d H u m a nS e r v i c e s , M o n t a n a State U n i v e r s i t y , 1 5 0 0 N o r t h 3 0 " ' Street, B i l l i n g s , M o n t a n a 59101-0298.


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