A Review of Foster Care in Professional Counseling Journals: A 31-Year Content Analysis

Abstract

This content analysis provides a 31-year review of foster care publications and research across 24 professional counseling journals from 1991–2021. A total of 35 articles utilizing foster care as a key term were published, representing less than 1% of all possible articles (N = 11,293). The Family Journal published the highest number of foster care-centered articles (n = 18), 11 of which appeared in a special issue focusing on the subject. Professional School Counseling published the second-highest number of foster care articles (n = 4) during this period. This analysis includes an examination of publication occurrences across the thirty-one-year span, the type of article (research, non-research), research methodology, and foster care focus area. Results provide the professional counseling field with current research trends, issues, barriers, and methods for future work.

Keywords

foster care children adolescents post-adoptive families content analysis counseling

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