Abstract
Internationally, there has been a significant increase in adolescents placed in foster care. In South Africa, several adolescents enter the foster care system due to several factors such as parental death, neglect or inability to provide care and protection. The Children’s Court places adolescents in voluntary foster care under the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. Adolescents placed in foster care are more likely to present with behavioural problems, which negatively impacts foster care placements. As a result, foster parents face different needs and challenges in caring for adolescents in foster care.
The main aim of the study was to explore foster parents’ perceptions of what their needs are, as well as the coping mechanisms they adopt in caring for adolescents presenting with risk behaviour. The exploratory qualitative study aimed to describe and contextualise the perception of foster parents’ needs in caring for adolescents presenting with risk behaviours. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants and focused on foster parents with lived experiences who were caring for adolescents who presented with risk behaviour. The sample comprised of seven (7) participants, and data were collected in semi-structured interviews. Thematic data analysis was employed, and ethical research procedures were followed in conducting the study.
The study findings highlighted the negative experiences foster parents had in caring for adolescents presenting with risk behaviour. The risk behaviour reported included sleeping out, coming home late, keeping bad friends, violent behaviour, backchatting, stealing, not attending school, not progressing, lying and refusing to do house chores. Foster parents reported having coping mechanisms in place to help them cope with the presenting behaviour of the adolescents in their care. The study recommends regular supervision of foster care placements and ongoing professional support to strengthen foster parents' coping mechanisms. Professional support may include support groups and counselling sessions for foster parents.