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- Title
FOSTER CARE IN BULGARIA – CHALLENGES FOR FOSTER PARENTS.
- Authors
Radulova, Tsvetelina
- Abstract
Current report presents the results of a survey conducted among foster parents, which identifies the most common challenges in the implementation of the foster care social service. The main objectives of the present study are to examine the motivation of foster families, the level of support they receive in the process of providing the service, the levels of satisfaction in their interaction with all those directly involved in caring for and improving the well-being of children at risk as well as the reasons why they would stop caring for children at risk. The main hypothesis of the study is that in the process of providing the service for foster families the main difficulties they face are the lack of teamwork between all stakeholders and misunderstanding of the nature of the foster care by society. The study outlines challenges and development of the service through the eyes of foster parents. 115 foster parents have participated in the research. Their main motivation, levels of satisfaction with their trainings, interaction with various specialists involved in the process of foster care have been researched. Results outline that lack of teamwork between all stakeholders, misunderstanding of the nature of the foster care service by society are the main difficulties faced by foster parents are and at this stage foster parents rely mainly on family and friends support. The study outlines the Bulgarian foster parent profile: most often female, aged between 46 and 65, with secondary education and living in a small town, and with experience as a foster parent over 7 years. Bulgarian foster parent is leaded by altruistic reasons and social commitment, and over the years has felt increasingly motivated to accept children at risk into his home. Foster care service faces many challenges and difficulties, which arise from the lack of teamwork between all parties interested in the welfare of children. The percentages of foster parents who do not feel like an equal participant among the other participants in the process are high: social workers, doctors, teachers, support specialists, are often confused by who requires or expects what from them. The results confirm the hypothesis of the study that in the process of providing the service to foster families the main difficulties they face are the lack of social security and support from specialists, the long period between placements, poor communication with social workers and specialists, frustrations from child policies and decisions regarding the future of children, lack of motovation and the inability to overcome separation from foster children on the one hand, and the lack of public awareness of the nature of foster care and discriminatory attitude towards foster children are the main reasons why foster families cease their activities.
- Subjects
BULGARIA; FOSTER home care; FOSTER parents; STAKEHOLDERS; ALTRUISM
- Publication
Knowledge: International Journal, 2021, Vol 46, Issue 5, p933
- ISSN
2545-4439
- Publication type
Article