African Americans' foster parenting experiences: Research findings and implications for policy and practice

In this article African American and white foster parents are compared with a focus on the fostering experiences of African Americans. Results of a recent study (Family Foster Home Retention Project [FFHRP]) of 804 foster parents in 8 urban counties regarding their demographic characteristics, reasons for fostering, willingness to continue fostering, opinions about fostering and training, stress, support, satisfaction, and predictions about future licensing status are discussed. Results from the FFHRP are considered in relation to the seminal work on African American foster parenting experiences with agencies conducted by Susan Downs a decade ago. Findings from this study reveal that African American foster parents' experiences with agency workers are generally favorable. Areas of displeasure focus on such macrostructural issues as agency policy concerning reimbursement, training content, allowances for children's care, amount of services provided to parents, types of children placed with parents, and involuntary closure of homes. Implications for policy, practice, and research are presented.