36th Annual Student Research Conference
The Impacts of Foster Care on Caregivers
Sara Mambo
Dr. Amber Johnson, Faculty Mentor
The foster care system is intended to be a temporary arrangement in which trained caregivers provide care. The number of foster parents is decreasing. I conducted semi-structured interviews with foster parents to address: What are the risks of becoming foster parents? What are the concerns you had to work through? What lessons have you learned through foster care? What support is given to you as a foster parent? I found that foster parents play a critical role in the lives of children providing them with a safe and nurturing environment while they work to reunify with their birth families or find a permanent placement. Despite the many challenges they face, many foster parents find the experience to be rewarding and provide them with the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of children who need it most.
Keywords: foster care, children , foster parents, foster care system, support, reunification, placement, risks
Topic(s):Sociology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 203-2
Location: SUB Georgian Room B
Time: 10:30