Journal Article

“I felt the system didn’t see me”: foster parents’ challenges, with a spotlight on their experiences with the schools

Awwad-Tabry, Sawsan

2024

Overview

Objective  Filling a notable gap in existing literature, this study aims to explore foster parents’ experiences and challenges in Israel, specifically in the context of schools and educational systems.  Method  This qualitative investigation employed a phenomenological approach. Fifteen parents raising elementary-school-aged foster children (ages 6–11) were interviewed using in-depth, semi-structured methods. Transcriptions of these interviews underwent thematic content analysis.  Results  The following three main themes emerged; (1) foster parents had different perspectives and expectations of their role in the foster care process; (2) foster parents coped with a range of emotional challenges and struggles; and (3) while foster parents emphasized the significance of their relationship with various entities at the schools, the study revealed considerable heterogeneity in the nature and quality of those relationships.  Conclusion  This study underscores the intricate challenges foster parents face in both general caregiving and school integration. It advocates for targeted emotional support, training, and school-staff collaboration to bolster children’s academic and emotional well-being.  Scientific relevance  The study illuminates an area underexplored in research. While its findings are specifically situated in the Israeli fostering and elementary education systems, it offers a valuable contribution to scholarly discourse on foster parent experiences and their interactions with educational systems.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Behavioral Science and Psychology / Education / Educational aspects / Elementary schools / Foster parents / Home and school / Parent and child / Parent participation / Parents & parenting / Psychological aspects / Psychology / Social Sciences