Estimating place-based protective factors for foster care placement disruption : a mixed methods study.

Persistent high rates of foster care placement disruptions present ongoing challenges for the US child welfare system, adversely affecting nearly every aspect of a child's development. With a declining number of available foster homes and the implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which aims to relocate children in congregate care settings into foster homes, understanding the characteristics of homes that can provide safe, stable, and nurturing care becomes even more crucial. This dissertation adopts a mixed-methods approach grounded in Ecological Systems Theory to explore the interdependent protective factors across micro and mezzo systems that influence placement stability. The findings highlight the significance of several traits and practices across micro and mezzo systems including agency transparency at placement, the role of private agencies in mitigating conflict between foster parents and county caseworkers', and well-organized foster parent support teams. The study also proposes a new theory of personal characteristics that mitigate common causes of disruption called "restorative framing."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Furlong, J. Wesley, 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yancey, Gaynor.

• Foster care.
• Placement disruption.
• Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)
• Ecological systems theory.
• Micro and mezzo systems.
• Transparency at placement.
• Protective factors.
• Restorative framing.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13151

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13151