Date of Award

5-2023

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Sapozhnikov, Brooklyn

Abstract

Purpose: This research proposal aims to better understand the effectiveness of current recruitment of Resource Family Approved (RFA) foster parents in a rural Northern California region. Approximately half of the foster youth at the selected research site were placed out of county due to a lack of available in-county privatized foster homes or RFA foster homes. By assessing the effectiveness of current recruitment rates, researchers identified effective future recruitment efforts. This understanding can lead to an increase in local foster homes and aid increased Family Reunification efforts.

Methods: The study partnered with a rural Northern California Resource Family Approval (RFA) program and utilized a positivist approach. The researcher assessed RFA department data and focused on licensed foster parents and former foster parents. Administrative data was collected and analyzed through thematic analysis.

Implications: The study’s results aimed to explore effective recruitment strategies for rural RFA programs. Analysis of research results highlighted the most ineffective and potentially effective RFA foster parent recruiting strategies at the rural research site. Implications for future social work include adjusting recruitment strategies to result in additional rural foster homes.

Included in

Social Work Commons

Share

COinS