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 c hoose the role of foster parents for persons with mental retardation? How do they see their role, as parental or as non-parental? The popula tion studied comprised 130 foster mothers for persons with mental reta rdation. The primary findings were that foster mothers' child-related motivation was positively associated to their view of the foster perso ns' advancement in terms of level of functioning,and that foster paren ts who viewed their role as parental reported a higher quality of cont act with the foster persons. Findings are interpreted in respect to po licy and practice.