LE3 .A278 1968

1968

No advisor given

Acadia University

Master of Social Work

Masters

Social Work

Maritime School of Social Work

This study investigates the relationship between a number of variables and success or failure of long-term foster family placements. The factors measured concerned the foster parents' 'own' children; race of the foster parents; age, previous foster experience, and behavior problems of the foster child; and the existence of the foster child's mother. This thesis is based on individual library research and data collection, undertaken at the Maritime School of Social Work in 1968. Data were collected at the Children's Aid Society of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Approximately 210 ward and foster parent files were examined, from which 39 foster family placements were selected. The duration of the placement was used as a measure of success or failure of the placement with a period of two years marking a success. Statistical tests of significance (chi-square) and discriminate function analysis were completed by computer analysis. It was found that none of the variables measured, 'When taken individually, were significantly associated with success or failure of placements. In some instances this was attributed to the small sample size. When each of the factors were weighted as to their relative importance, together they were significantly related to success and failure of foster family placements. It was concluded that further research should be done in order to further test these and other variables which are thought to be relevant to foster family placements.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3942