The aim of the study was to examine foster parents’ perceptions of psychosocial needs of children in foster homes in Nsukka Urban in Enugu State of Nigeria. The study was survey research. A sample of 370 foster parents was selected for the study through simple random sampling. The reliability coefficient of the instrument used for data collection was 0.86alpha. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. Mean and standard deviation (SD) was used to answer the research question while ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. First, the study found that foster parents have positive perceptions about the psychosocial needs of children in foster homes which include the need for adequate nutritional food, water and sleep; need adequate protective and child-friendly housing; and need safe environment for leisure activities amongst others. Further, it was found that there is no statistically significant difference in the mean perceptions of male and female foster parents on psychosocial needs of children in foster homes in Nsukka Urban. Recommendations were made based on these findings.
Keywords: Foster Children, Foster Parents, Foster homes, Nigeria, Parents’ Perceptions, Psychosocial Needs
