Concept mapping the needs of Flemish nonkinship foster parents who care for unaccompanied refugee minors. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Holen, Frank; Trogh, Lenny; West, Delphine; Meys, Nina; Vanderfaeillie, Johan
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 96(2019)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Unaccompanied refugee minor -- Support needs -- Foster parents -- Concept mapping; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.11.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: Concept mapping was used to identify the needs of nonkinship foster parents from Caucasian ethnicity who care for unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) in Flanders (Dutch speaking part of Belgium). Nonkinship foster parents ( n = 30) described their needs in response of the question: "What do you need to be a good foster parent for the unaccompanied refugee minor(s)?" Next, 50 unique responses were sorted by 15 foster mothers, and analyzed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Furthermore, foster mothers indicated the degree of importance of each statement. Fifty unique responses were grouped into eight clusters. In descending order of importance these clusters referred to parenting skills and a good fit of the URM into the foster family, good parenting conditions and personal skills, a tolerant society and information about options for reunification, support for the URM and certainty about the future, information on and open attitude for the background and friends of the URM, preparation of the URM and reassuring contacts with the biological family and others, support and fellow contacts for foster parents, and support from the context. Their needs resemble the needs of normal foster parents, with the exception of some specific needs, such as the preparation of URM for the placement, information about the options for reunification and certainty about the future, experienced foster care workers, specialized psychological support related to trauma, openness to and information about culture, religion and language. Highlights: Foster parents who care for unaccompanied refugee minors have specific needs. Unaccompanied refugee minors should be well prepared for placement in foster care. Placement success is associated with flexible cultural adaptation. Specialized services are needed to support foster parents of unaccompanied minors.