Children with disabilities: Problems faced by foster parents

A random sample of licensed foster parents caring for children with disabilities in a major Canadian city was asked "what are the problems you encounter fostering a child with a disability?" A total of 85 unique responses were obtained. These responses were grouped together by the foster parents. The groupings by foster parents were subjected to two statistical analyses, resulting in seven concepts. The concepts included the problems associated with obtaining specialized professional services, costs associated with fostering a child with a disability, arranging and maintaining appropriate educational placements and services, dealing with child's behavioral challenges, having opportunities to engage in self-care, managing multiple roles, and dealing with the health care system. The results were generally consistent with the available literature. However, some differences were noted and suggest relevant topics for future research with foster parents. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.