Rippling Doubt: A Grounded Theory Study of Foster Placement Disruptions to Inform Counseling

Abstract

This study utilized a GT methodology to better understand foster placement disruptions to inform counseling interventions. Despite the fact counselors are important stakeholders in the child welfare system, investigations into phenomena of foster families are largely absent from the counseling literature. The purpose of this study was to elicit from interview data of licensed foster parents an explanatory model of foster placement disruptions to assist counselors who provide services to foster children and their families. The key finding of this study was a generated theory of rippling doubt, explaining how foster parents increasingly doubt their abilities to continue providing care for a child due to overwhelming emotional/behavioral/cognitive challenges that impact key protective domains. A discussion of how the results of this study inform targeted counseling interventions within each of the impacted domains is included.