The development of an adolescent risk-behaviour management programme for foster parents

Abstract

Foster care is globally viewed as the most suitable option for children who are in need of alternative care with an assumption that it will provide them with stability and create opportunities whereby proper care and nurture will help them find a sense of belonging. Risk behaviour has been identified more so during adolescent stage as one of the contributing factors to foster care placement disruptions and breakdowns. However, few studies have been published on the implementation of intervention programmes for parents fostering adolescents presenting with risk behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate foster parents’ understanding and responses to risk-behaviour. Participants of the study were recruited from designated welfare organisations within the North-West Province. The sample included parents fostering adolescents between the ages of 14-17 years old. Thus, the primary goal of parenting programmes is to enhance parents’ knowledge, attitude and practices in relation to caring for adolescents. This study utilised a mixed-method approach using an integration of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches against the explanatory sequential design in collecting, comparing and analysing data. Content analysis of data was conducted. Based on the empirical literature, investigation and findings, the researchers developed an ARBM programme for foster parents. This programme was evaluated through a focus group discussion by foster parents who received training in the newly developed ARBM programme for foster parents. The findings of this study add value to the existing knowledge and make a significant contribution to intervention designed to assist parents fostering adolescents presenting with risk-behaviour. Based on the overall findings and conclusions, recommendations for practice and future studies are made. Section A of this thesis presents the research protocol approved by the Community Psychosocial Research (COMPRES) entity and the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC), North-West University. Supporting documents are attached which includes ethics approval (included as Addendum A). The section serves to orientate the reader to this study and includes an in-depth discussion pertaining to the planning and methodology followed in preparation for this study. Theoretical foundation and legislative framework that governs child protection informs the foundation of this study. Section B consists of the four (4) articles relevant to this thesis and each article is presented according to a structure of the journal article publishers that the researchers intend to submit for publication. The four articles form the critical part of this study’s findings and each of these articles focusses on the objectives of this study. The findings are critically discussed, elaborated and supported with evidence from literature and the research investigation. Section C presents the main findings of this study coupled with conclusions, limitations and future recommendations. The ARBM programme for foster parents was presented to foster parents. The content of this programme was further evaluated with a group of foster parents who received training. This programme has been circulated to all welfare organisations that participated in the study. Pamphlets were also distributed to foster parents for future reference. The findings of this study concur with an extensive amount of literature that there is a need for foster parents to receive trauma and behaviourally informed training on how to cope and deal with adolescents presenting with risk-behaviour. Through evidence-based training interventions, foster parents are likely to feel empowered and develop insight on how to regulate their parenting behaviour.