Specialized Foster Care: Voices from the Field

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the experience of providing specialized foster care. Study participants were 40 specialized foster parents who participated in 2-3-hour focus-group interviews. The parents' statements were analyzed with a form of content analysis. Analyses revealed broad themes, including the preparation of children for entrance into and exit from care, the definition of the foster mother role, the authority of foster parents, and the support provided to foster parents. Specialized foster care was recast in terms of the interpersonal relationships and organizational practices and social policies in which it is embedded. Questions for future research were identified.