Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-12T22:25:56.194Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Recruiting Out-of-Home Caregivers for Children with an Intellectual Disability in the Shared Family Care Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Abstract

Recruiting caregivers for children with an intellectual disability who require out-of-home respite or longer-term care is a problem which has challenged service providers for many years. This paper summarises findings of a recent evaluation of Shared Family Care, a foster care program in Victoria for children with intellectual disabilities/developmental delay. Current recruiting is not succeeding in meeting the demand for either respite, short term or long term care. Findings of the evaluation suggest that factors such as use of appropriate media, and running effective recruitment campaigns is only part of the answer. It is also important at every stage to address caregiver satisfaction with the job and employ strategies to find potential caregivers in the community.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Burwood, Barnados (1987) Professional Careers Program, Burwood, UK Google Scholar
Baxter, C., Volard, J., da Costa, C. (1990) Evaluation of SFC Formative Report Number Two. Victoria College, Disability Program Evaluation Unit.Google Scholar
Behr, S. (1990) Literature Review: Positive Contributions Of Persons With Disabilities To Their Families. Lawrence: University of Kansas, Beach Center on Families and Disability.Google Scholar
Cohen, S. & Warren, R. (1985) Respite Care Principles and Programs and Policies. Texas, Pro-Ed.Google Scholar
da Costa, C. & Baxter, C. (1990) Broad Monitoring of the Shared Family Care Program. Report to Community Services Victoria on the Evaluation of Shared Family Care. Volume 4, Victoria College, Disability Program Evaluation Unit.Google Scholar
Donley, J. (1976) ‘Children with special needs’. In Picton, C. (ed.), Proceedings Of The First Australian Conference on Adoption. Committee of the First Australian Conference on Adoption, Australia: Brown Prior Anderson Pty Ltd.Google Scholar
Glidden, L.M., Valliere, V.N. and Herbert, S.L. (1988) ‘Adopted children with mental retardation: Positive family impact’. Mental Retardation 26(3), 119126.Google ScholarPubMed
Intagliata, J. (1986) ‘Assessing the impact of respite care services: A review of outcome evaluation studies’ in Sainsbury, C.L. & Intagliata, I. (eds.), Respite Care, Support for Persons with Developmental Disability and Their Families. Baltimore, Paul H Brooks.Google Scholar
Interchange (1990) Brochure, Treat Yourself To A Bonus, Interchange Family Program of Victoria.Google Scholar
Interchange (1991) Share in the Care. Details of the Results of the 1990/91 Joint Interchange and Shared Family Care Recruitment Campaign, Interchange Family Program of Victoria.Google Scholar
Judd, C.M., Smith, E.R. & Kidder, C.H. (1991) Research Methods in Social Relations, 6th Ed., London: Holt Rienhart & Winston.Google Scholar
Kahn, A.J. (1957) ‘Socially and social work, challenge and invitation’. Social Problems, 4(3).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kotler, P. (1975) Marketing for Non-Profit Organisations, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Macomb-Oaklands, (1984) Regional Centre Recruitment of Foster Homes. (1984) An Institutional Manual of Foster Home Recruitment Techniques. Can Good Homes Really be Found? Michigan Dept. of Mental Health, USA.Google Scholar
Oliver, C. (1971) ‘Selling children's aid, a Canadian experience.Social Work Today, 2(18).Google Scholar
Opening New Doors, Finding Families for Older and Handicapped Children, based on talks given by Donley, K., The Association of British Adoption and Fostering Agencies, London, 1975.Google Scholar
Patton, M.Q. (1980) Qualitative Evaluation Methods, California Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Petersen, J.C. & Pierce, A.D. (1974) ‘Socioeconomic characteristics of foster parents’. Child Welfare, 53(5).Google Scholar
Reed, P. (1992) Marketing, Planning and Strategy, Sydney: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers.Google Scholar
Robinson, C. (19186) Avon Short-term Respite Care Scheme: Evaluative Study Final Report, Parts I & II. UK Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol.Google Scholar
Sawbridge, P. (1979) ‘Findings Homes for the Hardest to Place Children’, in Picton, C. (ed.), Proceedings of the Second Australian Conference on Adoption, The Committee of the Second Australian Conference on Adoption. Australia: Brown Prior Anderson Pty Ltd.Google Scholar
State plan for the development of intellectual disability services 1989-1992; Community Services Victoria.Google Scholar
Szwarc, B. (1989), The Bayside Specialist Placement Scheme. An Overview of the 12 months Demonstration Project, Victorian Children's Aid Society, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Upshur, C. (1982) ‘Respite Care for Mentally Retarded and Other Disabled Populations: Program Models and Family Needs’. Mental Retardation, 20(1), American Association on Mental Deficiency.Google ScholarPubMed
Volard, J. (1982) Recruiting Foster Parents for Intellectually Handicapped Children, Masters Thesis Uni. of Queensland, (unpublished).Google Scholar
Volard, J. (1983) ‘Recruiting foster parents. Socio-economic characteristic of foster parents of intellectually handicapped and non-intellectually handicapped children in Queensland’. Australian Child and Family Welfare 8(2) pp.39.Google Scholar
Volard, J. & Baxter, C. (1990) Service Provision and Policy Implementation in Formative Reports 1 and 2: Report to CSV/Disability Services on the Evaluation of Shared Family Care, Victoria College, Disability Program Evaluation Unit.Google Scholar
Walker, R. (1985) ‘An Introduction to Applied Qualitative Research’ in Walker, R. Applied Qualitative Research, Vermont: Gower.Google Scholar
Wikler, L., Wasow, M. & Hatfield, E. (1983) ‘Seeking strengths in families of developmentally disabled children’. Social Work, July-August, 313315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar