Unpublished report for the New Zealand Family and Foster Care Federation

This report is an evaluation summary of a pilot project that was instituted by The New Zealand Family and Foster Care Federation and funded by Child, Youth and Family Services. The aim of the project was to offer the peer support of experienced caregivers to foster families facing allegations of abuse of a child in their care. The pilot project ran from August 2004 to June 2005 in the Auckland region. The evaluation had two purposes. The first was to determine if the pilot project reduced caregivers' isolation and stress, and, therefore, the viability of continuing the pilot project. The second purpose was to determine what degree of formal investigation processes occur and how prepared caregivers are in handling allegations before they occur. This summary report provides the key findings and recommendations for the pilot project.

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