Foster parent’s experiences caring for infants in Aotearoa/New Zealand : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, by distance, New Zealand

Abstract

While fostering of infants shares similarities with the fostering of older children, they also make unique demands on foster parents. Given that such infants often have encountered various forms of trauma, they further demand a specialised set of skills from those who foster them. Currently there is a large body of research related to the foster system and the provision of care. In particular this focuses on children’s experiences and needs, with a growing focus on foster parent experiences, though usually in relation to primary age children and adolescents. Less represented is research related to the foster parents of infants, especially in the context of Aotearoa-New Zealand (A-NZ). This study therefore aims to contribute to this latter area, by further developing our understanding of the experiences and insights of foster parents in A-NZ who foster infants. Accordingly, this thesis explores the experiences of seven A-NZ based sets of participants. The participants were interviewed about their experiences and the transcripts analysed using thematic analysis. Five main themes were subsequently developed: Motivation and commitment, Nurturing from bud to bloom, External elements, Wellbeing and functioning, and Network of supportive relationships. Interwoven across these themes is the core notion of Relationships and interactions. The analysis demonstrates that fostering infants is more than just caring for vulnerable high needs infants, it involves being part of a complex dynamic system, a system that needs to support, train and equip, listen and include, and recognise the special work and contribution such foster families make in A-NZ. The analysis highlights the specific resources and support that need to be made consistently available to enable foster parents of infants to give the best care possible.