Assessing Psychosocial Development Of Foster Care Children: The Case Of Bethany Christian Services

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess whether foster child care services in Ethiopia were adequately addressing the psychosocial development of children included in foster care facilities. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using open ended and closed ended questionnaires, structured interviews and observation checklists as data collection tools. Accordingly, separate structured questionnaires were designed and used to collect data from foster family parents and foster children. Data were also collected from representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations through detailed interviews and the data were analyzed. Findings of the study indicate the foster parents, foster children and teachers anonymously agreed that all the children go to school; they are all provided with all the materials they require for their education, and that the majority of the children are happy with their education. The willingness of foster parents to accept and care for the needy children is also highly commendable. Furthermore foster parents are neither willing to allow their children to visit their friends in the neighborhood, nor let them to entertain their friends at home. In addition most of the parents are not happy to take their foster children along with them when they go to visit families or relatives and of the few that take their children along with them, there are parents who feel uncomfortable to introduce their foster children to their families. Finally, based on the major findings have been identified and some recommendations were made to strengthen and enhance the contributions of child foster care in the country in general and in Adama in particular. The minimum accepted income and education level that qualifies an individual to be a foster parent should be specified. BCS should take levels of education and income into serious consideration during the selection process. External financial support seems to be one the factors which will negatively affect the further bonding and attachment of foster children and their parent, this gap needs to be addressed.