NCJ Number
56670
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 42 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 33-37
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE OF AND NEED FOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FOSTER PARENTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PROPER PLACEMENT OF OLDER CHILDREN AND DELINQUENTS.
Abstract
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY OF FOSTER PARENTS HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A DECLINE IN THE CONTACTS OF PARENTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS, AND BY AN INCREASE IN THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN REQUIRING CARE. FOSTER PARENTS FREQUENTLY LACK THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO FULFILL THEIR ROLE. ONE STUDY FOUND THAT 60 PERCENT OF THE FOSTER PARENTS HAD RECEIVED LITTLE OR NO HELP FROM FOSTER CARE AGENCIES. A CASE HISTORY OF A 17 YEAR OLD MALE WITH A HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR INDICATES THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY FOSTER PARENTS, EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. THE FOSTER PARENT OF A DISTURBED YOUTH INEVITABLY HAS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF A DIFFICULT PATIENT. IN THE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THE YOUTH FREQUENTLY FLUCTUATED BETWEEN AGGRESSIVELY DELINQUENT AND CONFORMING BEHAVIOR, THE FOSTER PARENTS BECAME LESS PATIENT WITH HIS OCCASIONAL MISBEHAVIOR, AND WERE IRRITATED BY HIS LOW PERCEPTUAL ABILITIES. PARENTAL EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING WAS CRUCIAL IN DEVELOPING IN THE FOSTER PARENTS THE CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND THE YOUTH WITHOUT REJECTING HIM. THE KNOWLEDGE AND APPLICATION OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS WAS ALSO CONSIDERED IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE FOSTER CARE SITUATION. ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER CARE HOMES IS RECOMMENDED AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR SPECIFIC DELINQUENT SITUATIONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.