“It's just not right to move a kid that many times:” A qualitative study of how foster care alumni perceive placement moves

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that children who moved placements multiples times in foster care are more likely to experience poor psychological, social and academic outcomes and less likely to achieve family reunification. However, knowledge remains extremely limited regarding foster youth/alumni's perspectives of placement instability. This study examined two research questions: (1) how do foster care alumni remember their experiences of placement moves in foster care, and (2) how do foster care alumni perceive the consequences of their foster care placement moves on their lives today? Results indicated that participants experienced constant moving that involved loss of relationships, exclusion from placement decisions, difficulty graduating high school, unsafe placements, and feeling unwanted by caregivers. Next, long-term negative consequences of moving included ongoing instability and emotionally distant relationships in adulthood. Remarkably, participants drew on their experiences to develop adaptability and inner strength in the face of these challenges. Results from this study offer recommendations for alternative approaches to address placement instability. Implications for child welfare policy, practice, and research are provided.