Journal Article

Foster Families: A Systematic Review of Intention and Retention Factors

Gouveia, Lucilina, Magalhães, Eunice, Pinto, Vânia S.

2021

Overview

Background: Compared to residential care, family foster care is the preferable type of alternative care for neglected or abused children as it provides a familiar context that supports children’s developmental needs. New foster families are needed to care for these children. Objective: This systematic review aims to provide a critical analysis of the literature, identifying factors that explain the intention to become and to continue as a foster family. This review was performed following the PRISMA checklist and guidelines, through a search conducted in the following databases (no restrictions were made): PsycArticles, PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Academic Search Complete, ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science. Study eligibility: The review includes empirical quantitative and/or qualitative studies in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, with community and/or foster parents’ samples and explores the factors for becoming and/or retention of foster parents. Results: Forty-nine studies were included. The results revealed that the intention to become a foster parent is largely influenced by motivational factors, personal and family characteristics, individual values and beliefs, social context influences, and perceived familiarity with the child protection system. The retention of foster families is closely related to factors within the child protection system, personal or family characteristics, foster child characteristics, and placement challenges. The relationship with agencies and professional support stands out as the most important factors. Limitations and Implications: This review did not include studies focused on children with specific needs and characteristics, and future research should consider the particular challenges of fostering this group. Practice implications of these findings for the recruitment, selection, and retention of foster families will be discussed. Highlights Motivations, personal and family characteristics, and perceived familiarity or support from the child protection system were dimensions identified as associated with intention and retention. The child protection system must be prepared to support families that are highly motivated and meet the necessary conditions to foster. Formal support might reduce foster families’ willingness to discontinue fostering.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abused children / Attrition / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Behavioral sciences / Child Abuse / Child abuse & neglect / Child and School Psychology / Child placement / Child Safety / Child welfare / Children / Children & youth / Familiarity / Families & family life / Family characteristics / Foster care / Foster carers / Foster children / Intention / Kinship care / Motivation / Parents & parenting / Protection / Psychology / Qualitative research / Recruitment / Residential care / Residential institutions / Resistance (Psychology) / Retention / Review / Social environment / Social Sciences / Social values / Sociology / Systematic review