Perceptions and practice: Agency efforts for the hardest-to-place children

Abstract

This research focuses on perceptions and practices of agency staff supervising the placements of the hardest-to-place children. It uses an in-depth case-history approach to examine the case files of 80 children who were identified through the state adoption photolisting service as waiting the longest time for placement as of December 1998. Study results indicate that children in the sample had spent an average of 11.8 years waiting for placement. Children experiencing long delays were more likely to have substantial disabilities, be male, African American, and be older when they entered care. Caseworkers were not convinced of the eventual adoptability of the child in their care and this skepticism appears to be translating into reduced recruitment efforts on behalf of the child. Agency screening practices appear to be restricting placement options for these children. Implications of study results for child welfare practice are discussed.