Foster parents caring for children with mental illness and attachment difficulties face significant emotional and systemic challenges. This thesis explores their lived experiences, focusing on the complexities of caregiving, interactions with support systems, and, in some cases, the impact of unplanned placement disruptions. A descriptive phenomenological approach is employed to capture the depth of foster parents' experiences, with data consisting of in-depth interviews.
The findings are presented in three articles. The first article explores foster parents' emotional and relational struggles in daily caregiving. It examines how they manage the demands of raising foster children with enhanced needs while balancing their own lives, often experiencing exhaustion, self-doubt, and uncertainty about their role. The second article investigates foster parents’ navigation of support systems, highlighting tensions between their parental responsibilities and bureaucratic structures. It sheds light on inadequate information-sharing, collaboration difficulties, and the role of informal support from family and friends. The third article examines the impact of unplanned placement disruptions, drawing on interviews conducted before, during, three months after, and 3.5 years after the disruption. The study explores not only the initial grief but also the experience of an ongoing downward spiral, revealing how a disruption can happen, and how foster parents can struggle with lasting emotional, relational, and systemic consequences after the child has moved.
Based on the findings, three key aspects are emphasized in understanding foster parents' experiences. First, recognizing the potential emotional burden of fostering, particularly in high-demand caregiving situations. Second, acknowledging the systemic tensions that arise in the intersection between foster parents and support systems. Third, addressing the long-term impact of placement disruptions and how they shape foster parents' well-being over time. This thesis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges foster parents face and the need for greater attention to their emotional and practical support within our society.