Successful implementation of Looking After Children in Ontario: Three studies of key stakeholder groups

Abstract

For over two decades there has been growing concern over poor outcomes achieved by many foster care alumni (Courtney, Pilivan, Grogan-Kaylor, & Nesmith, 2001; Heath, Colton, & Aldgate, 1994). This series of studies investigates the implementation of the Looking After Children (LAC) (Parker, Ward, Jackson, Aldgate, & Wedge, 1991; Ward, 1995) approach with foster children in Ontario (the OnLAC study). Studies 1 and 2 investigated perceived usefulness of the AAR by child welfare workers and foster carers. The third study fell into two parts. The first investigated the factor structure of a measure of team implementation (TS-Y3). The second part investigated whether greater success in implementing LAC (as judged by the team) was associated with higher quality relationships with significant people in the foster child's life and higher levels of placement satisfaction. Methodology. For the first two studies we invited child welfare workers (n = 126) and foster parents (n = 93) who participated in Year 2 of the OnLAC study to respond to a questionnaire. For the third study we used data collected through the annual administration of the AAR in Ontario (n = 403). Results. In Studies 1 and 2 we found better quality training was a significant predictor of perceived usefulness of the AAR. In Study 3 we investigated the factor structure and validity of the TS-Y3, identifying two principle factors, LAC-PHIL measuring the degree to which the team felt that that they had achieved the priorities and goals of LAC and LAC-POC which measured administrative functions. We also found that higher levels of success were associated with better quality relationships with the female caregiver and child welfare worker but not with the foster father. Higher levels of success in implementing LAC also predicted higher levels of foster youth placement satisfaction. Discussion. The results of the first two studies suggest that child welfare workers and foster parents do find the AAR useful, particularly when they have received high quality training. The third study provides some support for the hypothesis that the LAC approach may facilitate resilient outcomes in youth. Implications of these findings are discussed.