Date of Conferral

11-12-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Denise Horton

Abstract

Approximately 400,000 children in the Child Welfare System have an average of more than three placement disruptions while in care in what is termed placement instability (PI). PI is a known toxin to children’s neurodevelopment that predisposes them to a life of poor behavioral outcomes. Previous research shows that foster parents dissatisfied with their carer role contributed to PI by quitting or terminating a child’s placement. However, an important gap remains in the PI literature about the ability of telemental health (TMH) to provide adequate support to foster parents, to increase satisfaction in the carer role and potentially decrease the rates of PI. Therefore, the main purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the role of TMH utility among foster parents for its contributions to carer role satisfaction and placement stability using a survey design. A second goal was to explore the role of caregiver orientations on TMH utility among foster parents in the United States using the Caregiver System Scale (CSS). A convenient sample of 77 foster parents who have used in-person and TMH services will be recruited with the help of a community partner. A multivariate regression analysis was used on survey data to explore whether TMH utility is associated with placement stability; and a one-way MANOVA was used to explore mean differences in TMH utility among caregiving orientations. Findings from this research could clarify how TMH utility contributes to placement stability with the aim of developing a service delivery model. This is an important contribution to the existing literature and would enhance social change initiatives through the development of a TMH praxis that helps to reduce PI and protect the neuropsychological development of cared-for children.

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