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Evidence-Based Practice in Foster Parent Training and Support ...

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EBP <strong>in</strong> <strong>Foster</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> <strong>Support</strong>Dur<strong>in</strong>g the structured biological family session, a foster parent support <strong>and</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g group meets<strong>in</strong> a separate location. At the conclusion of the visit the foster parents <strong>and</strong> the children leave <strong>and</strong>a second hour consists of a support group for the biological parents.No formal evaluations of FRP have been reported; therefore it is rated as an emerg<strong>in</strong>gpractice. If this project’s efficacy can be established it may provide TFC providers with a greatopportunity to ease the stress associated with visitation <strong>and</strong> provide support for other problemsthe parents are encounter<strong>in</strong>g.<strong>Foster</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Involvement <strong>in</strong> Service Plann<strong>in</strong>gA substantial decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the number of qualified foster homes <strong>and</strong> a sharp <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> thenumber of children <strong>in</strong> need of foster care have led child welfare professionals to place greateremphasis on foster parent retention (Sanchirico, Lau, Jablonka, & Russell, 1998). While agenciescan do little to reta<strong>in</strong> foster parents who leave the system for personal reasons, those who leavebecause of dissatisfaction with agency policies <strong>and</strong> practices may be reta<strong>in</strong>ed if the reasons fortheir dissatisfaction are identified <strong>and</strong> elim<strong>in</strong>ated. One factor commonly identified as one of thestrongest <strong>in</strong>fluences on foster parents’ satisfaction is <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> service plann<strong>in</strong>g (Denby,R<strong>in</strong>dfleisch, & Bean, 1999; Rhodes et al., 2001; Sanchirico et al., 199).Collaboration among foster care providers <strong>and</strong> agency workers needs to occur at theagency level as well. One study found that even though directors reported that the agency<strong>in</strong>formed foster parents of previous sexual abuse prior to placement, only half of all fosterparents <strong>in</strong> the study admitted knowledge of the children’s abusive experiences prior to placement(Henry et al., 1991). When asked about specialized tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> education for this population,Center for Advanced Studies <strong>in</strong> Child Welfare (CASCW)University of M<strong>in</strong>nesota School of Social WorkContact: Krist<strong>in</strong>e N. Piescher, Ph.D. kpiesche@umn.edu 101

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