Parent–Child Contact for Youth in Foster Care: Research to Inform Practice

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to document how often youth in foster care have contact with their legal parents, test factors associated with the amount of contact, and determine if contact was associated with relationships with caregivers and youth mental health symptoms.BackgroundBecause parental reunification is the case plan goal for most youth in foster care, it is important to maintain contact with parents. Federal policy emphasizes the importance of parent–child contact for youth in foster care; however, little is known about how often visitation actually occurs.MethodThis study involved a nationally representative study of youth aged 6 to 17 years in the child welfare system (N = 452). Youth reported their amount of contact with parents, and levels of emotional security and involvement with current caregivers. Caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Multinomial logistic regression and analyses of covariance were conducted to determine linkages associated with parental contact, relationships with caregivers, and youth mental health.ResultsMost youth had at least weekly contact with mothers; however, more than half reported never having contact with fathers. Youths' age, race, type of maltreatment, and placement were associated with how often contact occurred. Findings also revealed statistically lower internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems of youth who had daily contact with mothers compared with youth with no contact.ConclusionWhen parent–child contact is safely possible, more frequent contact with mothers is associated with beneficial youth outcomes.ImplicationsApplying a translational family science approach, implications for engaging mothers and fathers in visitation are discussed.