an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...

Length of time as a foster parent # From Bartow # From Fulton # From Harris
9 years 1
10 years 1
14 years 1
23 years 1
Methodology
A planning session with DFCS subject matter experts was held to discuss the purpose and design of the evaluation. The researcher crafted the
interview guide with input from DFCS subject matter experts and administrators. The Division Director contacted the county director at each of the
three (3) research sites to let them know that resource families from their area would be interviewed. The interviews were conducted by phone and all
of the resource families contacted were willing to participate in the interview. The responses from the interviews were analyzed and a summary of the
major findings is presented below.
Major Findings
The resource families interviewed understand respite as a service to be used when a foster parent is “sick, going on a vacation, when an emergency
arises or if a break is needed”. Although none of the participants explicitly stated that respite care is a service to prevent disruptions, several
described respite as a service that would lead to enhanced quality of care for the foster child. For example, a resource parent stated, “Children are
often exposed to difficult conditions. Respite care helps the foster parent to get centered again”, relieve frustration, and help prevent a sense of being
overwhelmed. Another participant stated, “It allows me to rejuvenate and refresh which makes me more patient.”
When I described respite care as a service to prevent disruption, reactions varied. For example, one participant stated, “It’s never been put that way, if
it had then I would have used it. I teach MAPP and it’s never been explained that way.” One participant responded by saying, “Yes, it is something I
have given a lot of thought to and requested.” Other participants reacted quite differently. For example, one participant stated, “I didn’t figure we
were in this for that purpose.” Another participant said, “I don’t believe in it.” Yet another stated, “I treat children like my own and have not needed
respite services.”
Seventy percent (70%) of the total sample had used respite care services in the past. All eight (8) participants or one hundred percent (100%) of those
sampled in Bartow County had used respite care. Three (3) of the five (5) participants or sixty percent (60%) of those sampled in Harris County had
Safe Future – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Plan G Page 10