1. Factors Affecting Positive Transitions for Foster Children Factors Affecting Positive Transitions for Foster Children Jennifer Anagnos & Megan Ware Advised by: Susan Wolfgram, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Stout RESEARCH PROBLEM: The majority of foster children are forced to endure a multitude of hardships and stress as they attempt to make successful transitions, moving from one foster caregiver to a subsequent or permanent placement. (Cole, 2005) RESEARCH QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS What is the foster mothers’ perspective on factors affecting positive transitions for foster children? Hypothesis: Foster mothers would consider the quality of home life and the emotional and physical caregiver availability to be the most important aspects affecting positive transitions. PURPOSE: 1. Explore aspects of the foster care system to determine what could be adjusted to make transitions between placements more positive for the child. 2. Develop a dependable survey instrument to gain foster mothers’ perspective on what needs to be changed or added to the foster care system to ensure positive transitions. 3. Increase awareness among foster care agencies and providers of changes that can be implemented. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: Attachment theory assumes that children are likely to have a better sense of attachment if an adult providing a loving, consistent, and persistent care is present. As applied to this study, this theory would predict that having a secure attachment figure would be a factor in easing the transitions between placements for foster children. LITERATURE REVIEW: Ponciano (2010) did a study that found maternal sensitivity to be a strong predictor of the security of attachment. Dozier et al. (2009) discovered that infants placed in foster care before the age of one were able to form attachments more easily. Schofield and Beek (2009) found that every child needs all five aspects of The Secure Base Model (availability, co- operation, acceptance, family membership, and sensitivity) in their lives in order to be able to thrive. Simmel, Barth & Brooks (2007) found that children placed in a foster home before adoption have more behavioral issues than those who weren’t. Cole (2005) found that attachment is more likely to be achieved in a well-organized home environment. METHOD: Participants: Participants: 13 foster mothers from a small Midwestern foster care agency. Research Design: Non-random pilot study, cross- sectional, purposive sampling design. Data collection instrument: Data collection instrument: IRB approved, informed by literature & theory, implied consent. Administered online using “Qualtrics” and via email sent by the Human Services Lead Worker of the foster care agency with three demographic questions and eleven closed ended questions on a 1-5 Likert Scale. Procedure: Procedure: Administered online to foster mothers using “Qualtrics” and via email sent by the Human Services Lead Worker of the foster care agency. Explained informed consent, confidentiality, and right to withdraw through e-mail and at the beginning of the survey. Data analysis plan: Data analysis plan: Cleaned and coded surveys, analyzed data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), frequencies, mean comparisons, correlations, and Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Analysis. DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES: GEN (gender), AGE (age), YRS (years being foster parent). DEPENDANT VARIABLES: FTP (foster parent training courses are helpful in facilitating positive transitions) HML (the quality of home life provided by the current caregiver affects the transitions between placements for foster children) CGC (caregivers who have accepted their own childhoods are better able to help foster children transition) PEX (caregivers with more parenting experience are better able to help children transition) SCG (the more sensitive caregivers are, the better able they are to help foster children transition) PCA (physical caregiver availability helps children to achieve positive transitions) ECA (emotional caregiver availability helps children to achieve positive transitions) FCA (foster children who feel a sense of acceptance are more likely to have a positive transition) IOA (foster children are more secure when moving into a placement when there is an intention of adoption) MFC (foster children are more secure when moving into a placement with three or fewer foster children) PSS (foster children who have been taught problem solving skills by their caregivers have more positive transitions) ECC (county human service agencies should combine foster care programs) PTP (foster parent training is adequate in preparing families to become foster parents) OTR (online training would help foster families better care for foster children) FTPHMLCGCPEXSCGPCAECAFCAIOAMFCPSSECCPTPOTR Mean4.54 4.463.384.084.31 4.462.923.544.03.543.624.00 SD.66 1.26.86.63.75.971.04.78.711.271.041.22 Range2.0 4.03.02.0 3.0 2.0 4.03.04.0 FTPHMLPEXSCGPCAECAFCAIOAMFCPSSECCPTP FPT.809**.570*.646*.621*.567* HML.809**.631*.570*.814**.621* PEX..631*.565* SCG.659* PCA.570*.663* ECA.646*.814**.663* FCA.609* IOA.659* MFC.607* PSS.609*..607* ECC.621*.674* PTP.567*.565*.674* RESULTS: There is a strong correlation between variables HML, ECA, and PCA. Significant correlations were found at the p<.01 for ECA with HML and at the p<.05 for ECA with PCA and HML with PCA; See table 2. We found a strong support for our hypothesis through our data. Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Analysis: 0.840 IMPLICATIONS: Alter foster parent training courses and make them more adequate, establish common goals between the foster parent, foster children, and social worker, establish similar rules between all foster homes, slow down the transition process Future research: the available response options for the question regarding the number of years being a foster parent needs to be changed from 1- 5; 5-10; 10+, to 1-5; 6-10; 11+. Add additional statements, large, random national sample. CONCLUSION As noted in the current literature, the majority of foster children face many hardships in transitioning to new placements. Our research found that an emphasis placed on improving such things as the quality of home life and physical and emotional caregiver availability can help allow foster children to achieve positive transitions. Foster mothers, because of their direct personal experience with foster care, have great insight regarding how transitions to new placement can be improved for foster children; their voices need to be heard.