The acquisition of informed consent for foster children's research participation

In a public child welfare agency, 6 respondents were recruited for a pilot study about foster children's transitions from birth homes to out-of-home care. During recruitment, knowledge was gained about the acquisition of informed consent for foster children's research participation, a topic about which there is remarkably little prior literature. In addition to being a necessity for research enactment, consent acquisition is a multifaceted process involving complex relationships with colleagues, potential respondents, and their birth and foster parents. Four detailed vignettes each illustrate a consent issue. With reference to each vignette, suggestions are made for researchers' sensitive, ethical, planful consent acquisition. Implications for agency-based professionals are offered, as are ideas for future study of consent acquisition.