Hope and Siege: The Experiences of Parents Whose Children Were Placed in Residential Care

• NCJ Number: 235297
• Journal: Residential Treatment for Children & Youth Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 2011 Pages: 120-139
• Author(s): Eli Buchbinder, Ph.D.; Orit Bareqet-Moshe, M.A.
• Date Published: May 2011
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the impact on parents of children's out-of-home placement.

Abstract

This qualitative study focused on research into the impact on parents of children's out-of-home placement. Twelve couples (24 parents) were interviewed. Three major themes emerged: (a) parents' perception of out-of-home placement as necessary because of children's destructive behavior and parents' victimhood; (b) parents' acknowledgment of positive changes in the child and the family, their pain surrounding the child's pressurizing to return home and fear of regression if this should come about; (c) guilt as a major emotion that impacts their couple relationship. The study results are evaluated in the context of research on parents' reactions to children's removal from home. (Published Abstract)