1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The objective of this article was to present three profiles of experience of foster-to-adopt parents according to the level of uncertainty linked to the probability of being able to adopt the child, i.e., the experience of certainty, of momentary uncertainty, and of chronic uncertainty.» (p. 108)

Questions/Hypothèses :
Authors try to answer the following questions: «[h]ow is the uncertainty linked to the probability of being able to adopt the child experienced? What strategies are developed by foster-to-adopt parents to deal with this uncertainty?» (p. 96)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample comprised 25 parents (18 women, 7 men) from 20 different families (14 heterosexual couples, 6 homosexual couples). […] The children (11 boys, 9 girls) were aged between 4 days and 5 years (mean age ¼ 19.5 months) at the time of placement in the foster-to-adopt family and between 4 months and 11 years (mean age ¼ 40.8 months) […].» (p. 99-100) Participants were selected from the Mixed-Bank program in Quebec.

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«The core finding from the theory generated in this study is that foster-to-adopt parents develop the sense of being the parent of the child they foster before they legally adopt them. Indeed, it seems that what plays a determining role in their experience as a parent is not the adoption order, granting them with the undeniable confirmation that the child is now legally their own. Rather, it is the experience of a tipping point in their relationship with the child, which marks a shift from being strangers to becoming the parental figure of that child. Further, since foster-to-adopt parents cannot base their sense of being the parent on legal grounds at first, they rely on other aspects of their experience as pillars that support their sense of being the parent. These pillars are their profound desire to have a child, the fact that they are taking care of the child on a daily basis, the significant and unique relationship they develop with the child, and the fact that they feel entitled as the parent of the child in the eyes of those around them. All 25 interviews conducted in this study confirmed this understanding of how foster-to-adopt parents develop their sense of being the parent of the child they foster.» (p. 101-102)