The Effect of Foster Families' Willingness to Foster Different Types of Children on Foster Home Utilization

Mary Ellen Cox
College of Social Work, Children's Mental Health Services Research Center
University of Tennessee
128 Henson Hall
Knoxville TN 37996
(865) 974-1707
FAX: (865) 974-1662
mecox@utk.edu
 
John G. Orme
College of Social Work, Children's Mental Health Services Research Center
University of Tennessee
128 Henson Hall
Knoxville TN 37996
(865) 974-1707
FAX: (865) 974-1662
jorme@utk.edu
 
Kathryn W. Rhodes
College of Social Work, Children's Mental Health Services Research Center
University of Tennessee
128 Henson Hall
Knoxville TN 37996
(865) 974-1707
FAX: (865) 974-1662
kwrhodes@mindspring.com
One-third of all approved foster homes have no children placed (DHHS, 1993). Child welfare agencies have suggested that many homes are underutilized because some foster families are unwilling to accept children with special needs and teenagers (DHHS, 1993). Although data on willingness to foster different types of children are collected routinely by child welfare agencies, no research has been conducted concerning the relationship between willingness to foster different types of children and foster home utilization.

PURPOSE. This study examines the relationship between foster families'; willingness to accept teenagers and special needs children and the number and types of children fostered.

METHODS. A secondary analysis of The National Survey of Current and Former Foster Parents was conducted. The NSC&FFP used multistage stratified probability sampling and a case-control design. The unweighted sample size was 876 and the weighted sample size was 108,592. Linear and logistic regression were used to examine whether willingness to foster teenagers and special needs children predicted: (1) the total number of children fostered, (2) the current presence of foster children in the home, (3) the number of foster children currently in the home, and (4) the number of types of special needs children fostered.

RESULTS. Foster parents who were more willing to foster teenagers and special needs children had fostered more children and more types of special needs children. Willingness did not predict the presence of foster children in the home, but willingness was positively associated with the number of foster children currently in the home.

IMPLICATIONS. Given the predictive validity of willingness data, agencies should use willingness data to match special needs children and teenagers with foster families. Willingness data also could be used to identify foster families that may need extra support or training before developing into potential placements for special needs children.
 

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