Balancing the high personal costs and rewards in providing foster care: Experiences of non-related foster carers in Australia

Abstract

Foster care is the preferred care option in nations such as Australia for children who cannot safely reside with their parents or within their family or community networks. Concerningly, all Western jurisdictions face chronic foster carer shortages and challenges in providing stable placements.

Aims

This study explores why foster carers are motivated to care and how they experience their caring role with the intention of understanding how these experiences impact placement and carer recruitment and retention.

Methods

Foster carers (N = 16) were interviewed in-depth regarding their expectations and experiences of foster caring and their narratives were analysed thematically, using interpretative content analysis.

Results revealed consistent themes of foster carers motivations around altruism and desires for family however foster carers also experienced contradictory expectations from the State, significant personal costs arising from lack of voice, disrespect from paid professionals and fear the child in their care may be suddenly removed. These findings suggest commitment to foster carer are requires balancing substantial risks and rewards.

Conclusion

The analysis provides an alternative narrative for understanding foster carer recruitment, retention, and placement stability and invites renewed consideration of foster care in terms of parenting and professionalism.