Foster parenting practices that improve the placement stability of Canadian aboriginal youth in state residential foster care

Residential instability, or disruptions with children and youth in state-funded foster care, is a common occurrence with large financial and human costs. There is little Canadian or British Columbian (BC) research on what risk and protective factors and what foster parent practices create placement stability with Aboriginal children in [foster] care (CIC). This study was based on qualitative interviews with five veteran foster parents who have 48 years of combined caregiver experience serving BC Aboriginal youth with complex behaviours. The foster parents identified relationship practices between the foster parent, CIC, social worker, and the child welfare agency that were either a risk or protective factors for residential placement stability of their Aboriginal children. Foster parents reported utilizing specific practices of attachment, empathy, and communication that improved relationship building. Understanding what relationship-building practices reduce disruptions with CIC can inform both agency policy and foster parent and social worker training.