About the study
Revolving Doors: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology
Every time a foster child moves from one home to another, a door revolves. This study asks the people who hold that door — foster parents — what it has meant to them.
The research
Placement instability — the repeated movement of children between foster homes — is one of the most persistent challenges in the child welfare system. While much research has examined its effects on children, far less attention has been paid to the foster parents at the center of these disruptions: their motivations, their struggles, and the weight of decisions made under extraordinary pressure. This study seeks to change that.
The approach
This study uses hermeneutic phenomenology — a qualitative research method rooted in the belief that lived experience carries meaning that numbers alone cannot capture. Rather than measuring outcomes, it listens deeply. Participants are invited to share their stories in their own words, through recorded virtual interviews, so that the complexity of their experiences can be honored and understood.
Why it matters
The findings of this research are intended to inform child welfare policy, agency practice, and support systems for foster families. By centering the voices of foster parents, this study aims to identify what leads to disruptions — and what might prevent them — so that fewer doors need to revolve.
What will happen if you take part in this study?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to:
- 1Complete a demographic survey online that will take 10–15 minutes.
- 2Participate in a virtual interview using Microsoft Teams that will be audio and video-recorded and last approximately 60–90 minutes.
- 3Review your interview transcript to verify the accuracy of your recorded statements.
Who can participate?
- Licensed foster parents in Northeast Ohio who have been licensed for 5 or more years
- Experienced three or more foster care placement disruptions
- Between the ages of 35 and 60
About the researcher
This study is conducted by Carla Wilson, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Community Care and Counseling at Liberty University's School of Behavioral Sciences. Her research is grounded in a deep commitment to the wellbeing of children in foster care and the families who open their homes to them.
Contact: cwilson66@liberty.edu
Ready to share your story?
If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, the next step is to review and sign the informed consent form.