Unlocking the Key to Foster Family Recruitment and Retention; Pulse Surveys

Every day, more families are needed around the world to care for children in foster care. In order for organizations to meet this need, they must develop a recruitment and retention process that is effective and can be sustained over time. One way to do so is by using pulse surveys to monitor the evolving needs of foster parents. These brief but periodic feedback loop provides insight into how families are feeling throughout their journey with the organization. By collecting this data, it helps leaders better understand what drives families’ decisions to become involved in foster care, and what keeps them engaged long term.

What Are Pulse Surveys?

Pulse surveys are short questionnaires sent out on a regular basis (such as monthly or quarterly) to gain a deeper understanding of how people feel about an organization or their role within it. Through pulse surveys, leaders can learn which efforts have been most successful in recruiting new families and how best to retain them over time. Questions asked could focus on topics such as what motivated the family member to become a foster parent and what challenges they may experience during their involvement with the organization.

The Advantages of Pulse Surveys in Foster Family Recruitment & Retention

By understanding why potential and existing foster families choose one program over another, organizations can create initiatives tailored to their needs. This could mean providing additional training opportunities or developing support networks that give new families a sense of community and belonging. Collecting feedback through pulse surveys also gives organizations insight into any gaps in services that may exist or areas where they can improve existing services so that more prospective families are encouraged to get involved in foster care. Additionally, by regularly checking-in with existing families via pulse surveys, organizations will be able to ensure that their experience meets expectations and make adjustments accordingly when necessary.

Organizations focused on recruiting and retaining foster families must stay ahead of industry trends if they want success long-term. One way for executives to do this is by utilizing pulse surveys as part of their recruitment and retention process. Pulse surveys provide insight into how prospective and current foster parents feel about the organization’s mission, practices, policies, services offered etc., allowing leaders the opportunity to make necessary adjustments along the way so that more people become involved in fostering children while those who are already involved stay engaged throughout the process. Ultimately, pulse surveys help strengthen relationships between organizations providing care for children in need and those who open up their homes — and hearts — to do so.