Family Functioning in Foster Care

Abstract

This study examined the family functioning of a cross-sectional sample of all approved and insured child-foster-care families in a mid-Atlantic state. The families studied functioned from well to excellent according to the Family Assessment Device. White and African American foster families showed relatively little difference in family functioning and both consistently scored better than did normative samples. Foster care's perceived Impact on the families was minimal and tended to be more positive than negative. The authors compare these results with other studies and suggest implications of their findings for practice.