Foster parents for persons with mental retardation in Israel: Motivation, role perception and their view of the foster person

This study examines two questions: what motivates Israeli mothers to choose the role of foster parents for persons with mental retardation? How do they see their role, as parental or as non-parental? The population studied comprised 130 foster mothers for persons with mental retardation. The primary findings were that foster mothers' child-related motivation was positively associated to their view of the foster persons' advancement in terms of level of functioning, and that foster parents who viewed their role as parental reported a higher quality of contact with the foster persons. Findings are interpreted in respect to policy and practice.