| Description: |
Third-party caregivers – that is, non-parent caregivers who care for children in some capacity – are very valuable in supporting the healthy development and wellbeing of children and families (Bronfenbrenner, 1990). Two populations of third-party caregivers – home-based childcare educators (HBCCs) and foster caregivers (FCs) – both currently face challenges with retention. Recent research, practice, and policy efforts have turned attention towards ways to better support the wellbeing and motivation of the HBCC workforce and population of FCs. Both populations are similar in many respects: they both care for children in their own homes, and both must navigate various aspects of their roles such as managing child behaviors, navigating system requirements, or accessing services for the children in their care. These experiences all lend themselves to the development of self-efficacy relevant to their respective roles, which is subsequently linked to satisfaction and motivation to continue in those roles (Cooley & Petren, 2011; Tschannen-Moran et al., 2001). Uncovering ways to better understand the needs of these valuable caregivers, including factors affecting the positive development of role-related self-efficacy, could help to identify important targets for future interventions in the early childhood and child welfare realms. Guided by social learning theory (Bandura, 1989) and Person-Process-Context-Time model (PPCT; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), these two dissertation studies aim to explore the relation between role-related self-efficacy and intent to continue providing care, as well as antecedents informing the development of self-efficacy for HBCCs and FCs in Oregon. The first study explores factors affecting applying or novice provider’s experience navigating the state registered listing process for license exempt HBCC educators in Oregon. Specifically, this study explored the relation between teaching self-efficacy, job-crafting self-efficacy, and listing approval, considering PPCT-informed ... |