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Researching the silent factor
‘Children should be seen and not heard’, a quote wistfully attributed to the Victorian era and uttered by adults bemoaning the child centred household, is ironically still the modus operandi when it comes to many organisational policies and practices that relate to children.
The Foster Care Association (FCA) of Western Australia is one organisation that is continuously looking at its policies and practices. In doing so they recently became aware that the voices of the children of foster carers went largely ‘unheard’, despite their potential to profoundly influence the relative success of a foster placement.
Having raised 2 biological children and fostered 80 children for varying lengths of time over the past 20 years, Fay Alford, President of the FCA, was keen for the organisation to embark on a research project which examined the experiences and information provided by the children of families who foster. Supporting this impetus were other foster families who were keen to understand the impact fostering someone else’s child may have on their own children.
As a not-for-profit organisation supported principally by volunteers, most of FCA’s resources are focussed on responding to crisis situations involving children urgently in need of care. Fay however maintains that “Undertaking a large research project can be challenging, but if it is well managed the project does not need to overwhelm a small agency.”
Committed to ensuring that its work is conducted within a professional framework; the FCA sought to investigate the impact of fostering on the children of foster carers through a research partnership with the University of Western Australia (UWA). Recognising the paucity of information in this area and the far reaching potential it had to inform policy and improve the conditions associated with foster care, the FCA approached Lotterywest for support.
The FCA was successful in receiving a research grant for $49,596. Whilst financial support was critical to their capacity to undertake the research, Fay acknowledges the value of establishing a reference group made up of key stakeholders to help manage and review the research. “Any agency undertaking such a project needs to have supportive stakeholders involved who can assist with issues such as recruiting participants. The interviews and focus groups with the children of foster carers, as well as focus groups with foster carers were the most critical component of the research and we relied on our stakeholders to help facilitate this process.”
The research has highlighted the need for an increased awareness regarding the role that the children of foster carers play and for improved ways of recognising and supporting these children. It has generated a report which has been instrumental in seeking changes to the policies and practices which guide fostering. The research has also increased professional awareness of the needs of the children of foster carers at the national and international level by contributing to the limited body of knowledge.
Whilst FCA’s findings were well received when presented at an international foster care conference in February 2007, Fay stresses the importance of planning ahead regarding distribution and promotion of the research findings, as well as the need to probe further in particular areas of interest. As the President of a Western Australian organisation that is providing leadership at the international level, her sights remain fixed on the local context as she acknowledges” We have applied for further support from Lotterywest to undertake research with Indigenous foster families over the next 18 months.”
Editors Note: Please call Lotterywest if you have a research proposal that will build knowledge or improve practice in your service area.