Unpacking “support”: Understanding the complex needs of therapeutic foster parents

Abstract

Abstract Children in therapeutic foster care (TFC) are more likely to have complex emotional and behavioral needs that require skilled parenting, but TFC foster parents do not always receive the training and support they need to provide these children with stable, supportive and therapeutic care, resulting in high levels of placement disruptions. As the broader foster care system moves away from relying on residential programs for children with emotional and behavioral needs and in turn places more of these high-need children in home-based settings, better understanding the unique needs of TFC foster parents is critical. Drawing from focus groups with TFC foster parents, this paper explores different aspects of their experiences, identifies multiple ways in which they need support, and provides recommendations for foster care agencies looking to retain skilled foster parents and increase the quality and stability of children s experience in TFC programs.