A foster home is a private home that is commissioned to care for and foster a child and that is remunerated for doing so. Foster care is the prioritized placement form for children, who social services have decided need out-of-home care, but there is a shortage of foster carers.
Research on foster homes on three parts
The aim of the research project Foster families wanted. Recruitment, assessment and municipal partnerships in foster care is to examine explanations for the shortage of foster homes by posing three overarching questions in three sub studies. So far, we have published results from sub studies 1 and 3.
1. Why do not more people apply to become foster carers?
In sub study 1 randomly selected women and men aged 25–64 with no prior experience of fostering were invited to participate in a survey about their views of foster care and their own potential to serve as foster carers. Only about one percent of the participants stated that they were very likely to apply to become foster carers. The most commonly cited reasons for not fostering were lack of time and lack of space. When asked what would increase their inclination to apply to become a foster carer, the factor that was rated significant by most respondents was being certain of receiving the necessary support from social services.
2. On what grounds are applicants assessed as suitable or unsuitable?Â
Sub-study 2 examines the grounds on which applicants are assessed as suitable or unsuitable to become foster carers. Data were collected using a study-specific assessment log developed in collaboration with social services, as well as through focus group discussions with caseworkers, and are currently being analysed.
3. How is the competition for foster homes handled by municipalities through regional partnerships?
In sub study 3 we investigate inter-municipal cooperation in foster care. So far, the results indicate that the outcomes of pooling resources for foster care recruitment are positive, however, municipalities might begin to compete over foster carers in new ways. For foster families, such collaboration means having an additional party to relate to, while some feel that it also provides them with more support, for example in negotiations with the municipality. The next step will be to examine what previous forms of regional partnerships can teach us.
Funding and further research
The research project is funded by Forte (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare) and builds on a planning project Recruitment, assessment and matching of foster carers. In a new research project – Sustainable foster care: foster carers' experiences and their willingness to accept new placements – we examine what influences foster carers’ willingness to continue to foster. If you want to know more about the projects you are welcome to contact us.
