In May and June 2008, foster parents and relative caregivers will be surveyed for their views on training, support and other experiences caring for children in foster care. The Braam Panel encourages foster parents and relative caregivers who are contacted to participate in the survey-- this is an opportunity for caregivers to tell the Children’s Administration and the Braam Oversight Panel how things are going. This is the second year of the survey, which is being conducted annually for the Braam Oversight Panel. Results from the first survey can be found here.

In order to ensure confidentiality, Washington State University’s Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) is conducting the survey. All caregiver information will remain confidential with SESRC and no personally identifying information will be shared with anyone else, including the Braam Panel and Children’s Administration. Participants’ responses will be combined so that individual answers cannot be identified in the results. Overall survey results will be used by the Braam Panel and by DCFS (Children’s Administration) to identify ways of improving the training and support provided to foster parents.

The survey was designed and conducted by the SESRC, and is an independent, statistically valid, anonymous telephone survey of foster parents and relative caregivers across Washington State. In developing the survey design, questionnaire, and procedures, the SESRC consulted with the Braam Oversight Panel, the Foster Parent Association of Washington State (FPAWS), Children’s Administration (CA) staff, and the Braam Survey Advisory Group, which included foster parent or relative caregiver representatives from each of the six Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) regions. The survey questionnaire was extensively reviewed by foster parents, Braam Panel members, Children’s Administration staff, and Braam plaintiffs' attorneys.

First Annual Foster Parent Survey Results- September 2007

Results from the first annual survey of foster parents and caregivers conducted in 2007 by Washington State University’s Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) can be found below. Foster parents and relative caregivers from across Washington State participated in the survey, including at least 140 respondents from each Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) region. This has provided extensive information related to caregivers’ experiences, concerns and needs.

Survey results have been compiled into several different reports:

Benchmark Report 07-054
This report presents an introduction to the purpose of the survey, provides an overview of the survey methods, and describes the calculation of eight specific Braam Panel benchmarks. The report presents the benchmark results for all licensed and unlicensed caregivers and for the six DSHS regions.

Appendix to the Benchmark Report
The appendix to the benchmark report includes the detailed data tables and survey results that were used in the calculation of the eight specific benchmarks.

SESRC Data Report 07-048
This report is a compilation of the survey methods and survey results and includes a copy of the telephone interview questionnaire, the letter mailed to foster parents and relative caregivers, and other survey materials. This report includes the final sample disposition, and the results for every question in the survey for licensed and unlicensed caregivers.

Appendix to the SESRC Data Report 07-048
The appendix to the survey data report includes a frequency tabulation of all survey questions for all survey respondents. There are also separate sections for frequency tabulations of all survey questions for licensed caregivers, and for unlicensed caregivers.

Children's Administration Explanation of Non-Working Numbers
This January 2008 memo on behalf of Children's Administration provides detailed explanation regarding the non-responsive phone numbers for foster parents and relative care providers in the 2007 foster parent survey.