Benefits of transcultural fostering

Licensed Canadian foster parents residing in a central province where Aboriginal children have been overrepresented in child protection caseloads and Aboriginal adults under‐represented as caregivers were asked about their experiences fostering children from a different culture than their own during telephone interviews. In response to the question ‘What are the benefits of fostering children who have different values, beliefs and traditions than you?’, 48 unique responses were received. These responses were independently grouped together by foster parents and the groupings analysed using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Six concepts emerged. They included learning about a different world view, reflecting on one's own beliefs, an opportunity to share and change, confidence to foster across cultures, humility, and seeing children teach and learn from each other. Similarities and differences between the results and existing research were identified and research implications were described.