Narrative Study of the Child-Matching Experiences of Sponsoring Parents in a Child Care Facility

This study aims to explore the child-matching experiences and correlated implications for sponsoring parents in child care facilities. In order to achieve this research purpose, data were collected through in-depth interviews with one parent who had more than ten years of experiences in child-matching, at the recommendation of the director of a child care facility. The collected data were analyzed using narrative inquiry methods. The research showed that the experiences before the sponsorship were 'volunteer work at a daycare center following my mother' and 'the trauma of losing a friend'; and for those becoming a sponsor parent, they were 'the first match was a failure', 'open your heart and try again', and 'mastering the role of a sponsoring parent'. Living as a sponsoring family was derived from 'a mother's feelings about marrying off her daughter', 'positive parent modeling', and 'letting go of connecting with your children'. Based on the research results, policy and practical recommendations are presented.