Narratives of Filipino Houseparents in Residential Children Care Facilities

Abstract

Residential care facilities in the Philippines rely predominantly on houseparents to provide daily physical and emotional support to children with disabilities. Despite their central role, there remains a paucity of scholarly attention to how houseparents construct meaning around their caregiving responsibilities. This study sought to examine the narratives of houseparents within a government-run residential care facility. Employing a qualitative narrative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six houseparents aged 30–65, each possessing a minimum of three years of caregiving experience. Data analysis drew upon Clandinin and Connelly’s (2002) three-dimensional narrative inquiry framework, Barkhuizen’s (2007) three-scale narrative space, and thematic analysis informed by the Person-Environment-Occupation model. The findings illuminated three higher order themes: Personal Vocation Journeys in Residential Care Facilities, Weaving Environmental Conditions into the Houseparent’s Role, and Occupational Realities of Caregiving in Residential Care Settings. The study concludes that stronger institutional support, targeted training, and mental health interventions are essential to sustain the well-being of houseparents and improve the quality of care in local residential facilities.