| The Family Study
Center of Oregon State University will identify factors affecting
the quality of care and children's integration into kinship and
nonkinship foster care settings. Previous research suggests that
foster children between the ages of 9 and 18 years often perceive
themselves as outsiders in their foster homes, and that birth
children see them as intruders. The objectives of this research are
(1) to evaluate the quality of care given; (2) to evaluate the
satisfaction of foster children, caregivers, birth children and
agency personnel with the care given; (3) to assess how foster care
providers perceived the training they received, particularly as it
related to children's integration; (4) to test an integration
model; and (5) to develop an assessment tool and evaluation
protocol for placement of foster children. Data will be collected
using direct observations, in-depth interviews, questionnaires,
children's drawings, rating scales, and videotaping. Quantitative
analysis will be done on a random sample of 60 families (30 kinship
and 30 nonkinship) chosen from 135 foster families in the study
area. The qualitative analysis will be done on a random subset of
10 kin and 10 nonkin families using an exploratory, multi-site,
embedded case study design. Problem-solving sessions with
caregivers, a foster child, and a birth child will be videotaped to
assess family integration and interaction. A pilot test of the
assessment tool and evaluation protocol will be done. |
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