Psycho-Socio-Professional Aspects of Foster Care in Romania
Journal Title: Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy - Year 2014, Vol 17, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: This paper represents a part of a research that is intended to support the family from the child protection system. We wanted to bring benefits through the implementation of standardized methods and techniques, by using uniform work practices: the validation of assessment, selection and personal optimization of foster parents who take care in their family substitutes of children deprived of parental care. Objectives: The need for research lies in the socio-economic needs and functional context of the foster care system that lead to de-professionalization, stiffness, routine and lack of performance, efficiency and quality, so necessary in the context of a job involving the deepest part of a human. The nature of the research is holistic and aims in all stages of the foster parent the evaluation and selection, training and development of the people involved in children care. Thus, the need to develop a profile of the efficient foster parent instruments used in the research were highlighted in order to perform a psychodiagnostic evaluation, the subsequent selection and training which empower these families to successfully integrate the children in placement. Method: In order to build the efficient foster parent profile, we considered that four psychosocial factors may complete the picture of professional efficiency for the optimal integration of the children within the foster family. These factors are: personality traits, couple relationship, parenting skills and the professional efficiency of the foster parents. We used four diagnosis/evaluation tools in order to achieve this optimal profile: NEO PI-R Personality Inventory; DAS - Dyadic Adjustment Scale; CCP Inventory - Questionnaire for investigating parental competence; Professional self-sheet for the standard occupational foster parent. Results: The results allowed us to analyze the classification level in the psycho-socio-professional profile of the evaluated foster parents. The relevant aspects of the deviation from this profile are the facets of the neuroticism factor. A significant percentage of foster parents showed high average scores for one or more facets such as anxiety, anger/hostility, depression, shyness, impulsiveness or vulnerability to stress. At the same time, self-esteem and assertiveness were low rated, while the conscientiousness was high rated. Conclusions: These professional foster parents need emotional support; they need to express themselves, to know themselves, to become more open, assertive and self-confident. They need time to connect with themselves, to understand the professional and family context, to understand themselves in this context, to identify their own resources and capabilities in order to successfully adapt to the role of efficient foster parents. They need personal optimization.
Authors and Affiliations
Marinela-Carmen Grigore
Keywords
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