The support and training of foster parents

[摘要] This research provides an overview of foster care and investigates the support andtraining of foster parents as well as the issues foster parents need to manage on aregular basis.The basic premise for this research is the importance of social workers becomingaware of the issues foster parents manage on a regular basis as well as the support andtraining needs of foster parents. It is important for foster parents to receive support aswell as social workers and family care organisations to develop and implementappropriate training programmes for foster parents on an ongoing basis. Fosteringaffects and requires the involvement of the entire foster family as well as relevant roleplayers and professionals. It is therefore necessary to consider the foster parents andfoster family as part of the larger fostering arena, and not to be supported and trainedin isolation. The nature of the foster placement will inevitably influence thedevelopment of the foster child, meeting the needs of the foster child as well as theeffect that the placement has on the foster family. The purpose of this research is tobroaden the theoretical knowledge of professionals working with foster parents, andspecifically social workers and family care organisations, in identifying fosterparent's training and support needs.This research report includes an investigation of the issues foster parents and fosterfamilies manage on a regular basis as well as the nature of and benefits of support andtraining for foster parents. Knowledge of these issues foster parents manage whilefostering will increase the awareness and the ability of the social worker or otherprofessionals to provide training and support to the relevant foster parents.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University