Formal Foster Care in Ghana; The Experiences and Perceptions of Foster Children and Foster Parents

Abstract

This paper reports on an exploratory qualitative study of seven (7) foster children and four (4) foster parents in formal foster care in Ghana using in depth semi structured- interviews. The sample was selected purposively from placements by a foster care agency and the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana. Formal foster care in Ghana is an under researched area and the experiences of children in formal foster care is unknown. The research explored how foster children experience foster care and how they locate themselves across their biological families and foster families as well as ascertain the extent to which foster children feel connected and supported in their placements. Also, the perceptions of foster parents on foster children’s experiences and challenges of both foster parents and foster children were examined. Thematic findings from the research indicate that foster children have better standards in care, foster children feel a sense of belongingness to their foster families regarding their wellbeing and foster children have limited biological family contact. With regards to foster parents, they are able to achieve their personal parenting goals, they feel entitled to foster children and they perceive foster children as having a sense of belongingness in their placements. However, there is a conflict regarding foster children’s belongingness. Children feel happy about their foster placements and have a good sense of connectedness to their placements but certain practices such as corporal punishment as a parenting strategy becomes coercive and affects the participation of foster children and stability of these placements.