REDUCING FOSTER CARE:

Abstract

Research on the drift of children in foster care is clear in identifying time in care, parental visiting, and case worker contacts the critical factors - - influencing this phenomenon. Designing intervention strategies that consider these factors and whose implementation is feasible is difficult. The literature suggests that family contracting and a goal-directed, structured system of supervision and administrative feedback both hold promise. Although these strategies appear to be powerful, simple, and feasible, a naive attitude by administrators toward implementation can spell failure. Even if these strategies are implemented and successful, the problem of prevention of placement remains.