Foster Caregiver Couple Well-Being 

We study the link between couple, co-parenting, and parenting practices of foster caregivers to inform services that enhance the quality and stability of care for Georgia's foster youth. 

While foster parenting can be very rewarding, there are many unique challenges and stressors that foster parent couples experience following the placement of a child in their home that may jeopardize placement quality and stability.

  • Our research examines the link between couple and coparenting relationship quality and the parenting experiences of foster caregiver couples.

  • We worked in collaboration with various state and local partners to implement and evaluate relationship enrichment trainings for foster caregivers couples.

Funding Sources 

  • Georgia Department of Human Resources (2016) 

  • U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (2015-2020)

Select Publications

  • Richardson, E. W., Mallette, J. K., Futris, T. G., Brown, R., Starke, J., Cui, S., & Shepherd, L. (2025). Dyadic reports of interparental relationship quality and intentions to continue fostering among coupled foster caregivers. Family Process, 64, e70044. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.70044

  • Arroyo, A., Richardson, E. W., Hargrove, C., Futris, T. G. (2024). Foster caregivers’ depressive symptoms and parenting stress: Applying the theory of resilience and relational load. Family Relations, 73(2), 1438–1454. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12908

  • Richardson, E. W., Mallette, J. K., Futris, T. G., Pettit, M. E. (2023). Foster caregivers’ improvements in couple relationship skills following relationship education: Examining trait mindfulness as a moderator of change. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(5), 1332-1353. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231157774

  • Richardson, E. W., Mallette, J. K., Futris, T. G., Dai, Y., & DeMeester, K. (2022). Foster parenting stress as a moderator of change in coparenting support following relationship education. Journal of Family Issues, 43(10), 2599-2623. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X211031521

  • Richardson, E. W., Pettit, M., Futris, T. G., & Gale, J. (2022). A latent class analysis of nonrelative foster caregivers’ trait mindfulness and individual and relationship outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(7), 1262-1273. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000917

  • Mallette, J., Richardson, E. W., & Futris, T. G. (2021). Foster father identity: A theoretical framework. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 13(3), 300-316. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12391

  • Richardson, E. W., Futris, T. G., & Mallette, J. K. (2020). Fostering confidence: Foster caregivers’ relationship efficacy and associations with couple and coparenting relationship quality. Child and Family Social Work, 25, 62-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12654

  • Richardson, E. W., Mallette, J. K., & Futris, T. G. (2019). “In my heart forever:” Dedication, grief, and couple relationships among foster caregivers. Journal of Family Studies. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2019.1685561

  • Richardson, E. W., Futris, T. G. (2019). Foster caregivers’ couple and coparenting relationship experiences: A dyadic perspective. Family Relations, 68(2), 185-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12354

  • Richardson, E. W. Futris, T., Mallette, J., Campbell, A. (2018). Foster mothers’ parenting stress and coparenting quality: An examination of the moderating role of support. Children and Youth Services Review, 89, 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.024

  • Richardson, R. W., Futris, T. G., Duncan, J. C., & Mallette, J. K. (2018). Meeting the couple and coparenting relationship needs of foster caregivers: A needs assessment of child welfare county directors in Georgia. Journal of Extension [On-line], 56 (1). 10.34068/joe.56.01.09 Available at https://www.joe.org/joe/2018february/rb6.php

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