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

EBP in Foster Parent Training and SupportSinclair, & Wilson, 2000). In general, qualities of a good social worker, as reported by fosterparents, include: 1) showing interest in how carers are managing; 2) being easy to contact andresponsive when contacted; 3) following through on plans; 4) being prepared to listen and offerencouragement; 5) taking account of the family’s needs and circumstances; 6) keeping fosterparents informed and included in planning; 7) ensuring that payments, complaints, etc. areprocessed as soon as possible; and 8) attending to the child’s interests and needs, and involvingfoster parents where appropriate (Fisher et al., 2000). Support provided during times of crisisplays an especially important role in the attitudes formed by foster parents of social workers(Fisher et al., 2000).Foster parent retention is also associated with agency and worker support. Negativerelationships with professional agency staff are linked with foster parents who are consideringquitting (Rodger, Cummings, & Leschied, 2006). Foster parents who actually quit may perceivethey lacked information about the unique parenting demands of foster children, whereas inqualified homes planning to quit agency relationships might be the deciding factor (Rhodes et al.,2001). When dealing with loss, such as the death or removal of a child from a foster family’shome, agency services and supports are reported to be valuable factors of foster parent retention(Urquhart, 1989).Treatment foster parents may also benefit from sources of support outside of the agency.Direct access to on-site professionals such as mental health care providers, case workers, andfamily advocates is viewed as helpful in gaining access to needed resources and referrals,obtaining available information about children’s backgrounds, and helping to resolve childbehavior problems in the home (Kramer & Houston, 1999). Although informal sources of agencyCenter for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW)University of Minnesota School of Social WorkContact: Kristine N. Piescher, Ph.D. kpiesche@umn.edu 110