The Impact of Bonding and Empowerment on Foster Carer Satisfaction and Retention

A Comparison with a Parental Role

Timothy BroadyACWA Conference 2012

Role of Foster Carers

Important and Unique Providing care for child who has been removed from the

care of his/her biological family

Parental Responsibilities Provide safe, nurturing, secure family environment Involved in planning and decision making

Accountable Sharing the care Regular review Ongoing training

Role of Foster Carers

Ambiguous nature Clients vs. Colleagues Employees vs. Volunteers Substitute parents vs. Specialised care providers

Implications for satisfaction

Satisfaction of Foster Carers

Bond/Attachment Attachment relationships

Disrupting the old, developing the new Parental responsibility

Day-to-day care Late onset Quality of care

Satisfaction of Foster Carers

Empowerment Initial motivation (intrinsic)

I am able Autonomy (extrinsic)

I can Support

Research Questions

1. How does bonding/empowerment influence satisfaction?

2. How is this similar/different between foster carers and parents?

Participants

Foster Carers N=123 (88% female) 28 – 70 years old 74% married / living with

partner 82% Australian

Parents N=97 (79% female) 24 – 61 years old 93% married / living with

partner 89% Australian

Bond Child Parent Relationship Scale How does this child respond to me?

Results

0 1890

95

100

105

110

115

120

125

130

Foster Carers (0)Foster Carers (18)Parents

Child Age (years)

CPRS

Sco

re

Results

Bond Parent Child Relationship Questionnaire How do I respond to this child?

0 18135

140

145

150

155

160

165

Foster Carers (0)Foster Carers (18)Parents

Child Age (years)

PCRQ

Sco

re

Results

Empowerment Family Empowerment Scale Sense of empowerment within family context

0 1848

49

50

51

52

53

All Participants

Child Age (years)

FES

Scor

e

Results

Empowerment Intrinsic Empowerment Personality variable – general sense of empowerment

0 1830

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

018

Child Age (years)

Intri

nsic

Em

pow

erm

ent S

core

Results

Desire for Affirmation Wanting positive response from child

0 1812

12.25

12.5

12.75

13

13.25

13.5

Foster CarersParents

Child Age (years)

Desi

re fo

r Affi

rmat

ion

Scor

e

Results

Foster Carers Parents

Higher FES Higher PCRQ

Higher Intrinsic Empowerment Higher Intrinsic Empowerment

Female Higher Desire for Affirmation

More of child’s life in current placement

Higher income

Positive parental contact

Less parent interaction

What predicts greater satisfaction?

Similarities/differences between foster carers/parents

Impact of bond/empowerment

Understanding of role (as understood by carers) Policy expectations of carers Training/support

Timothy Broady, PhD Candidatet.broady@student.unsw.edu.au

Implications