Measuring Foster Parent Potential: Casey Foster Parent Inventory-Applicant Version

• Published in: Research on social work practice Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 77 - 92
• Main Authors: Orme, John G., Cuddeback, Gary S., Buehler, Cheryl, Cox, Mary Ellen, Le Prohn, Nicole S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01.01.2007; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Applicants; Construct Validity; Factor Structure; Foster Care; Foster carers; Measurement; Measurement techniques; Measures (Instruments); Mothers; Parents; Placement; Potential; Psychometric Analysis; Psychometric properties; Psychometrics; Questionnaires; Reliability; Social sciences; Surrogate Parents; Validation studies; foster family care; foster parents; foster families; measurement; retention
• ISSN: 1049-7315; 1552-7581
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731506295084

Objective: The Casey Foster Applicant Inventory-Applicant Version (CFAI-A) is a new standardized self-report measure designed to assess the potential to foster parent successfully. The CFAI-A is described, and results concerning its psychometric properties are presented. Method: Data from a sample of 304 foster mothers from 35 states are analyzed. Results: Six CFAI-A subscales were identified, and internal consistency reliability for these subscales ranged from .64 to .95. The construct validity of all but one of these subscales is promising. Conclusions: The CFAI-A shows promise for use in research and practice, where it might be used to improve decisions about how to support, monitor, and retain foster families and to match, place, and maintain foster children with foster families.