ChildrenandYouthServicesReview 26 (2004) 307–329 0190-7409/04/$-seefrontmatter  2004ElsevierB.V.Allrightsreserved. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2004.01.003 Parentalandfamilialcharacteristicsoffamily foster care applicants JohnG.Orme *,CherylBuehler,MichaelMcSurdy, a, b a KathrynW.Rhodes,MaryEllenCox,DavidA.Patterson a a a University of Tennessee, College of Social Work, Children’s Mental Health Services Research Center, a 128 Henson Hall, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA University of North Carolina, Greensboro Department of Human Development & Family Studies, b 228 Stone, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA Abstract Fosterfamilyapplicantsformthepoolfromwhichcaregiversareselectedfor75%ofthe 568000 children in foster care. We know little about these applicants along dimensions thought to influence the behavioral and emotional adjustment of foster children. This limits our understanding of how best to recruit, assess, train, and support these applicants. This studyexaminedthepsychosocialfunctioningof161familyfostercareapplicantsintermsof parenting, family functioning, marital quality, psychological problems, and social support. It also examined demographic characteristics. The majority of men and women had one or more problems in psychosocial functioning, but most only had one or two problems. However, approximately 17% of women and 24% of men had three or more problems. Considerable diversity existed in demographic characteristics. Implications of these results fortherecruitment,assessment,training,andsupportoffosterfamilyapplicantsarediscussed.  2004ElsevierB.V.Allrightsreserved. Keywords: Parentalandfamilialcharacteristics;Familyfostercare;Fosterchildren 1. Introduction Foster family applicants form the pool from which caregivers are selected for 75% of the 568000 children in foster care (Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). These families are a critical, national resource that is in short supply (Department of Health and Human Services, 1993; General Accounting *Corresponding author. E-mail address: jorme@utk.edu (J.G.Orme).