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Foster and Adoptive Parent Perspectives on Needs and Services: a Mixed Methods Study

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Abstract

Caring for children with complex needs severely stresses foster and adoptive parents, but few studies have examined their perspectives on needs and services. To examine parental views, the authors analyzed four focus groups (n = 27 participants) and one state-wide survey (n = 512 respondents, 42% of 1206 contacted) of foster and adoptive parents in one state. Results highlighted inadequate communication between providers and families, cultural and legal barriers, needs for parent training and preparation, the importance of several types of parent supports, and needs for specialized mental health treatment for the children. Surveyed parents identified children’s behavior problems as their top challenge, and over half rated the availability of mental health providers who treat attachment and family as insufficient. The findings suggest specific areas in which state leaders could enhance training and supports for child welfare staff and foster and adoptive parents and improve mental health services for children in foster and adoptive care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Trauma Interventions Research Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA

    Erin R. Barnett PhD, Mary K. Jankowski PhD & Rebecca R. Parton MSW, LICSW

  2. Center for Program Design and Evaluation at Dartmouth, 21 Lafayette #373, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA

    Rebecca L. Butcher MS, MPH

  3. New Hampshire Division of Children Youth and Families, 129 Pleasant St, Concord, NH, 03301, USA

    Catherine Meister BA

  4. The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH, 03766, USA

    Robert E. Drake MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Erin R. Barnett PhD
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  2. Mary K. Jankowski PhD
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  3. Rebecca L. Butcher MS, MPH
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  4. Catherine Meister BA
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  5. Rebecca R. Parton MSW, LICSW
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Correspondence to Erin R. Barnett PhD.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This project was funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau, 90C01115-01.

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Barnett, E.R., Jankowski, M.K., Butcher, R.L. et al. Foster and Adoptive Parent Perspectives on Needs and Services: a Mixed Methods Study. J Behav Health Serv Res 45, 74–89 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-017-9569-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-017-9569-4

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