Journal of Student Research 2012

Factors Affecting Positive Transitions for Foster Children

19

= the more sensitive caregivers are, the better able they are to help foster children transition; (PCA) = physical caregiver availability helps children to achieve positive transitions; (ECA) = emotional caregiver availability helps children to achieve positive transitions; (FCA) = foster children who feel a sense of acceptance are more likely to have a positive transition; (IOA) = foster children are more secure when moving into a placement when there is an intention of adoption; (MFC) = foster children are more secure when moving into a placement with three or fewer foster children; (PSS) = foster children who have been taught problem solving skills by their caregivers have more positive transitions; (ECC) = county human service agencies should combine foster care programs; (PTP) = foster parent training is adequate in preparing families to become foster parents; (OTR) = online training would help foster families better care for foster children. ~ N=14; **Correlation is significant at the p<0.01 (two-tailed) *Correlation is significant at the p<0.05 A reliability analysis was run to indicate if the fourteen variables were a reliable index to measure the major concept: Foster mothers’ perspectives on factors affecting positive transitions for foster children. Our Cronbach’s Alpha, a measure of reliability, was 0.840, indicating that the survey questions were a reliable measure of the major concept. Discussion We found support for our hypothesis that foster mothers would consider quality of home life and emotional and physical caregiver availability to be the most important aspects affecting positive transitions. Statistically significant correlations (p<0.01) were found which supported this study’s hypothesis. There was a statistically significant correlation between the statements The quality of home life provided by the current caregiver affects the transitions between placements for foster children , Emotional caregiver availability helps children to achieve positive transitions , and Physical caregiver availability helps children to achieve positive transitions. These findings are supported by theory and literature. Attachment theory assumes that children are likely to have a better sense of attachment if an adult providing loving, consistent, and persistent care is present (Davila & Levy, 2006). Panciano (2010) found maternal sensitivity to be a very strong predictor of the security of attachment. The frequency distribution also demonstrated support for this study’s hypothesis. The majority of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the quality of home life, emotional caregiver availability, and physical caregiver availability are all important aspects in providing positive transitions for foster children. These findings are supported by Schofield and Beek (2009) who stated that the Secure Base Model, focusing on the importance of availability, acceptance, co-operation, and family membership, is beneficial to follow when caring for foster children. The results, literature, and theory were all in concurrence regarding the