ABSTRACT Increasingly, child welfare programs are encouraged to consider how technology can help meet the goals of child protection, permanency, and well-being. Qualitative inquiry was used in this study to explore caregivers’ (biological parents, foster parents, kinship caregivers) perceptions of the use of smartphones to facilitate relational competence (an indicator of well-being) in foster youth. The implementation study (process and satisfaction evaluations) yielded mixed results concerning the viability of using smartphone technology to facilitate healthy, positive connections with appropriate adults. Although foster youth were highly satisfied with how this technology enabled them to forge relationships and establish connections, caregivers reported that the phone itself and the agency’s rules and restrictions usurped their parental authority and responsibility. Foster youth reported gains with respect to relationship building with others, but caregivers felt the acquisition of smartphones, as a method of intervention, compromised their relationship with the youth and the youths’ relationship with others. Caregivers also felt relations between foster youth and their workers were not necessarily enhanced via smartphone usage. Safeguards and recommendations concerning the use of smartphone technology, especially pertaining to prudent parenting, are discussed.

中文翻译：

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在寄养家庭中使用智能手机技术来建立关系能力：照顾者的声音和对谨慎养育子女的影响

摘要越来越多地鼓励儿童福利计划考虑技术如何帮助实现保护儿童，永久性和福祉的目标。本研究使用定性探究来探究照顾者（生物父母，寄养父母，亲属照顾者）对使用智能手机促进寄养青年的关系能力（幸福感的指标）的看法。实施研究（过程和满意度评估）产生了关于使用智能手机技术促进与适当成年人健康，积极联系的可行性的混合结果。尽管寄养青年对这项技术使他们能够建立人际关系和建立联系感到非常满意，看护者报告说，手机本身以及该机构的规定和限制篡夺了其父母的权力和责任。福斯特（Foster）青年报告说与他人建立关系方面有所收获，但看护者认为，购买智能手机作为一种干预手段，损害了他们与青年之间的关系以及青年与他人之间的关系。护理人员还认为，通过使用智能手机不一定能促进寄养青年与其工人之间的关系。讨论了有关使用智能手机技术的保障措施和建议，尤其是与谨慎育儿有关的保障和建议。损害了他们与青年的关系以及青年与他人的关系。护理人员还认为，通过使用智能手机不一定能促进寄养青年与其工人之间的关系。讨论了有关智能手机技术使用的保障措施和建议，尤其是与谨慎育儿有关的保障和建议。损害了他们与青年的关系以及青年与他人的关系。护理人员还认为，通过使用智能手机不一定能促进寄养青年与其工人之间的关系。讨论了有关使用智能手机技术的保障措施和建议，尤其是与谨慎育儿有关的保障和建议。