Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education, Educational Psychology

Date of Defense

4-9-2024

Graduate Advisor

Cody Ding

Committee

Shea Kerkhoff

Emily Brown

Kristy Brann

Abstract

Children in foster care are considered a vulnerable population because of the maltreatment and abuse that previously occurred. In addition to the trauma resulting from previous abuse or neglect, children in foster care face ongoing exposure to trauma due to the lack of stability within the system. Instability in the foster care system is displayed by frequent changes in placement providers, multiple school changes, inconsistent mental and physical health treatment, prolonged permanency, and loss of connections with biological family members. The aim for this study is to fill the gap in the literature on foster parent’s experiences with successful placement outcomes for foster care children. This research utilized a grounded theory approach to analyze the experiences of 13 foster parents in the state of Missouri. The findings were grouped into three different themes. The three major themes that were utilized to develop the theory for this study focused on child focused placements, trauma aware foster parents, and connection and community engagement. This research examined current foster parent’s experiences with successful placement outcomes in order to develop strategies for placement stability for foster care children.

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