Term Foster Care Research Articles

Policy and Legal Implications for Working with Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in Foster Care in the United States

Unaccompanied immigrant children arrive in the US having fled deteriorating conditions and human rights violations in their home countries. Despite the large numbers of unaccompanied children, there is a lack of research on outcomes for unaccompanied children in the US and particularly for those in the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Long Term Foster Care (LTFC) program. This manuscript begins with a review of the existing laws that influence unaccompanied children (UC) served through the ORR’s LTFC program and a review of the current research on UC in foster care in the US. Notably, this manuscript also visualizes the numbers of UC that have arrived in the US since the early 2000s. These are used to provide a synthesis of recommendations for policy and practice with unaccompanied children.

Placement disruption in foster care: Children's behavior, foster parent support, and parenting experiences.

The majority of children in foster care 24 months or longer experience three or more placements. Children's behavior problems are a primary contributor to multiple moves, but little is known about how behavior problems and other stressors lead to disruptions. This study focused on foster parents' experiences of parenting a child at risk for moves using the determinants of parenting model (Belsky, 1984) to identify potential correlates of difficult parenting experiences and placement disruption. To identify factors associated with difficult parenting experiences and placement disruption. Foster parents (N = 139) caring for children age 8-14 in long term foster care with a history of two or more moves were randomly selected in a large Midwestern state in the U.S. Participants completed a 90-minute telephone interview (86% response rate). Placement moves were tracked prospectively for two years. Parenting experiences and disruption were analyzed using multiple and logistic regression. Results support aspects of the determinants of parenting model. Behavior problems, children's risk to others, low support, and stress were significantly associated with more difficult parenting experiences (βs = .28, .22, .18, .19, respectively, ps < .05), and more difficult parenting experiences strongly predicted placement disruption (p < .01). Risk to others also predicted disruption before including parenting experiences, with this association becoming nonsignificant after including parenting experiences. Unexpectedly, African American foster parents had a higher risk for disruption, despite more positive parenting experiences. These findings support attending to foster parents' parenting experiences, children's risk to others, social support and stress to better support placements of children at risk for disruption.

Investigating the link between school performance, aftercare and educational outcome among youth ageing out of foster care: a Norwegian nationwide longitudinal cohort study

Prior research on public interventions targeting youth ageing out of public care (‘aftercare’) and related educational outcome is scarce. The ones that exist indicate that youth receiving aftercare increase their chances of accomplishing higher education and thereby lower risk of social exclusion in later adult life. Yet, little is known about the characteristics of those who receive aftercare measures compared to the ones that enter adulthood without the same support. By using Norwegian nationwide longitudinal administrative data of the total population born 1986–1990 placed in long term foster care, this article provides empirical insight on how foster youths’ resources as reflected by school performance at age 16 is related to the chances of receiving aftercare. Furthermore, it explores to what extent such a selection might mediate the relationship between aftercare service and completion of upper secondary school at age 21. The results show that medium and to some extent high-achievers are more prone to receive aftercare measures from the child welfare system. However, this selection does not explain the positive educational effects of aftercare. Staying in foster care beyond the age of 18 has a strong positive effect on completion of upper secondary school which is not altered when taking selection into account.

Unaccompanied immigrant children in long term foster care: Identifying needs and best practices from a child welfare perspective

The numbers of unaccompanied children immigrating to the U.S. from Central America have increased drastically in recent years, and as many as 35% are eventually placed in long term foster care (LTFC) while in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Yet, the research literature has been largely silent on the unique needs of these children while in care, or how practitioners can best respond to these needs. Drawing data from 22 focus groups with professionals and foster parents (n=79) in two large organizations serving unaccompanied children in LTFC, the current qualitative study is designed to address these gaps. Analysis of data followed a grounded theory approach of open and axial coding to develop themes. The most pressing needs of children in care include securing appropriate and stable foster placements for youth; promoting connections in the community; ensuring adequate education and independent living skills; difficulties with acculturation; trauma and mental health issues; and issues related to legal status. Current strategies to address these issues include supporting culturally competent foster placements; providing English-language training; promoting relationships in the community such as mentors; and providing health and health-related services. Future research and practice should include a specific focus on those youth most marginalized in the education system, particularly those who lack language skills and formal education. The provision of culturally appropriate, trauma-informed care is needed in practice, as is the need to establish culturally valid trauma assessments. More work could be done to sensitize communities to the unique needs and strengths of unaccompanied youth as they integrate into U.S. society. For these children, a sense of permanency will likely entail building strong relationships in their local community that can help sustain them when they leave foster care.

Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Predictors of placement stability in long term foster care

Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have migrated to the United States in recent years, particularly from Central America, but also from a range of other countries. These children are fleeing unprecedented levels of violence in their home countries, and often are seeking reunification with parents and family members (i.e., sponsors). Some children are not able to live with a sponsor, and these children are placed in federally funded foster care. Yet, virtually nothing is known about how these children fare during placement. Literature related to domestic child welfare has demonstrated the importance of placement stability to children's future well-being. Using an exploratory design, the purpose of this study is to examine the placement stability of unaccompanied youth while in long term foster care from 2012 to 2015, and how pre-migration, transit, and post-placement risk factors are each associated with placement changes for these children (n=256). Results show that experiencing violence in home countries, and significantly acting out while in care, were associated with a higher likelihood of changing placements. Migration-related trauma was not significant, but fear of returning to home countries, and suffering trauma unrelated to migration, each was associated with a lower likelihood of changing placements. Children from Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) were more likely to have experienced a failed family reunification prior to entering foster care. These results are discussed in light of the need to adopt a global perspective in child welfare that interprets children's behavior in the larger context of pre-migration experiences and culture.

The wellbeing of foster children and their relationship with foster parents and biological parents: a child’s perspective

Most Dutch foster children live permanently in foster families. It is often assumed that foster children have ambivalent loyalties and attachments to their birth parents and foster parents and are torn between the two. In this study 59 children between 10 and 18 years placed in long term foster care completed standardised questionnaires on the relationship with their parents respectively foster parents and their wellbeing. Results show that, on average, foster children have positive feelings of loyalty and attachment towards both their foster parents and biological parents. However, their wellbeing appeared mainly related with stronger attachment representations towards their foster parents. This study found no indications for a competing position of biological parents and foster parents from the perspective of the child. Nevertheless, foster children who see their foster and biological parents as more vulnerable or experience stronger normative boundaries, feel worse compared to children who experience this feelings less.

Child Welfare and the Transition to Adulthood: Investigating Placement Status and Subsequent Arrests.

Studies of the transition to adulthood in child welfare focus almost exclusively on youth in foster care. Yet, research indicates that maltreated children who remain in the home may display similar risks as compared with their peers in formal foster care settings. Utilizing administrative data from child welfare, juvenile justice and adult corrections, the current study fills a gap in the literature by analyzing justice outcomes for older adolescents involved with the child welfare system regardless of their placement status. We focus on both intact family cases and formal foster care placements. The diverse sample (11% Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Native American, 9% multi-racial, 56% female) included open child welfare cases involving 17 year olds (n = 9874). Twenty-nine percent of adolescents were associated with a long term out of home placement and 62% were associated with an intact family case. Event history models were developed to estimate the risk of subsequent offending. Adolescents associated with long term foster care placement were significantly less likely to experience a subsequent arrest as compared with adolescents associated with a long term intact family case. Males, African Americans and adolescents associated with neglect were also more likely to experience a subsequent arrest. Limited focus on the intact family population in child welfare represents a lost opportunity to support critical developmental gains and facilitate a smooth transition to adulthood.

Foster care assessment: A study of the placement decision process in Flanders

Family foster care placement decision-making has a weak scientific underpinning. Mostly a ‘variable-oriented approach’ is taken, which requires a lot of information that is not always available. The identification of clusters of foster children with similar characteristics may be a more viable decision strategy. In this study we investigated if foster children could indeed be clustered, which problems were identified at the time of placement, and the influence of placement history. It proved possible to group foster children into two clusters: (1) young children with familial problems and few behavioral problems, and (2) older children with prominent child problems and behavioral problems. For foster children with and without placement history, problems associated with placement proved identical. Considering that a foster care placement did not result in fundamental change in the problems present at time of placement, the importance is stressed of approaching foster care assessment as part of a decision making process which looks back as well as forward. Placement decisions should be based on an appraisal of the appropriateness of foster placement as a solution for the child. In conjunction with this appraisal a decision is required on how parents can be supported toward reunification. Or – if this is not an option – whether long term foster care is the best option for the child and if so, what conditions need to be met.

Alcohol and drug abuse among young adults who grew up in substitute care — Findings from a Swedish national cohort study

To what extent substitute long term care modifies intergenerational transmission of substance abuse has rarely been investigated. Using register data, we followed a national cohort born 1973-1985 consisting of 1012 national adoptees, 2408 former children from long term foster care, 348/846 environmental siblings of adoptees/foster children, and 952,935 majority population peers, from their 15th birthday to age 27-35. Using Cox regression, we calculated hazard ratios (HR) for hospital care and criminality associated with illicit drug/alcohol abuse, with adjustments for socio-demographic indicators of caring families, and substance abuse in caring and birth parents. Among 37% of foster children, 9% of adoptees, and 1% of majority population peers, both birth parents had indications of substance abuse. In age/sex adjusted models foster children had four to sevenfold elevated HR for substance abuse outcomes, and adoptees two to threefold HR, in comparison with majority population peers. Estimates were only marginally attenuated after adjustments for socio-demographic indicators and morbidity of caring parents. After adjustments for birth parental substance abuse, HR decreased to around 1.5 for adoptees and foster children equally. Biological children of substitute parents did not differ substantially from majority population peers.

Achieving Placement Stability

Placement stability as an outcome goal in child welfare performance measurement is grounded in the importance of providing stability for children as they are developing attachments and relationships to caregivers. Research shows that many children are vulnerable to placement instability, especially those who have been in long term foster care. This literature review provides an overview of the federal placement stability measure. It then summarizes the diverse set of factors has been found to be associated with placement instability, including characteristics of the child and family of origin, placement type and quality, and the child welfare system and services. Promising practices aimed at promoting placement stability are summarized, followed by questions designed to foster discussion about the relationship of the evidence to child welfare practice.

Placement stability in the context of child development

Placement stability is important for children to find permanent families, and for social, emotional and educational development of children. This study used the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW, long term foster care general sample) data set to examine foster child and caregiver characteristics, and the caregiver–child relationship as a predictor of placement stability. Logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of achieving placement stability. Due to differences across development, the sample was divided into two groups: early childhood and middle childhood. As expected, in the early childhood group more caregiver than child characteristics affected placement stability. In the middle childhood group it was expected that more child than caregiver characteristics would predict placement stability, however, only child problem behaviors and caregiver experience and age affected placement stability. It was noteworthy that marital status, caregiver education, and income did not. Implications for social work research and practice are discussed.

Against the odds: Foster carers’ perceptions of family, commitment and belonging in successful placements

This study examines carer attributes associated with placement stability for teenagers growing up in long term foster care, focusing on unexpected placement success. We explored experiences and perceptions relating to family, belonging and commitment in a group of foster carers providing a stable placement for a young person who had not been expected to settle. These placements showed positive outcome, despite factors in the child's history that might have predicted otherwise. Seven foster carers were interviewed following a semi-structured guide, which covered their ideas about their relationship with the child in question, about the foster family, and the child's sense of belonging in foster and birth family. Analysis of carers' accounts of placements which had succeeded 'against the odds' revealed four major themes, described under the headings My Child--emotional bonding, the carers' enlarged view of family and their parental regard for the young person; Jam in the Sandwich--working within a 'compromised space' between Local Authority and birth family; Repair and Rebuild--the craft of fostering including managing the foster/birth family boundary; Sticking with It--resilience, tenacity and maintaining hopefulness. The carers' accounts offer pointers towards the ingredients of successful placements and prompt reflection on how these may be supported and promoted. They also highlight tensions inherent in the foster carer task relating to carers' parental functioning for young people in long-term foster care.

School performance in primary school and psychosocial problems in young adulthood among care leavers from long term foster care

We used data from Swedish national registers for ten entire birth year cohorts (1972–1981) to examine psychosocial outcomes in young adulthood for youth that left long term foster care after age 17 ...

Children's wellbeing in care: Evidence from a longitudinal study of outcomes

This paper reports research on outcomes of long term foster care from an eight year longitudinal study of foster care placements. Using a prospective, repeated measures design and a multi-informant approach, the outcomes of 59 children were assessed at two yearly intervals as they progressed in placements. Data from personal interviews with children over 8 years and all caseworkers highlight outcomes in the spheres of family and social relationships and emotional and behavioural development highlighting the factors and constraints impinging on outcomes. Overall findings from the study indicate that alongside concerns related to placement stability, academic achievement and emotional and behavioural development, children and young people in this sample displayed positive outcomes in domains such as family and social relationships and pro-social behaviours as they progressed over time in their care placements. Intervention strategies to promote resilient outcomes and facilitate children's care experience are discussed outlining implications for evidence based ‘best practice’ and directions for outcome-based research with children in foster care.

Kinship care and sibling placement: Child behavior, family relationships, and school outcomes

Using Child Protective Services (CPS) and Long Term Foster Care (LTFC) samples from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW), this study examines 2488 observations of 1415 different children to investigate relationships among kinship foster care, sibling placement, and child welfare outcomes, including youth behavior, family and caregiver relationships, and school performance. Although a growing body of literature has addressed issues of kinship placement and sibling placement, no prior studies have examined outcomes of both types of placement, including possible interactions when placements involve kinship foster care of sibling groups. This article first provides an overview of research concerning outcomes of kinship foster care or joint placement of siblings in foster care. Following discussion of the study's samples and variables, the article presents both descriptive and regression analyses of outcomes. It concludes with a discussion of the substantive findings, their implications, and limitations.

Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children in Care: A Longitudinal Study of Outcomes

This paper will report research on outcomes of long term foster care from the first 4 years of a 7 year longitudinal study of foster care placements. The study uses a prospective, repeated measures design, incorporating quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Standardized measures, for which general population normative data are available, are used in the study, including the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist. The needs and achievements of 59 children and responses of caseworkers, carers and teachers to these were assessed at different stages of the placement. Data from personal interviews with children over 8 years and with respective foster carers and caseworkers of all children in the sample indicate that despite concerns related to placement stability, academic performance and emotional and social development, children in this sample progressed in domains such as family and social relationships and prosocial behaviours as they progressed over time in their care placements. The results at initial assessments reflected a high prevalence rate of internalising and externalising problems, and improved scores and adaptive functioning at later assessments as they progressed in permanent placements illustrating some positive effects from the care experience. Results from teachers’ comparative assessments of the children in care and a comparison group lend support to the resilience literature that views the school environment and educational process as affording structure, boundaries and security to children in care systems and enhancing their wellbeing. The voices of children add an important dimension to the study bringing into the research their lived experience. Strategies to promote resilient outcomes and facilitate children’s wellbeing in care are also discussed.

Modeling behavioral problems of children in the child welfare system: Caregiver, youth, and teacher perceptions

Using data from two national United States probability samples, the NSCAW Child Protective Services ( N = 5501) and Long Term Foster Care ( N = 727) samples, this study identifies predictors of child behavioral problems of children referred to child protective services or in long-term foster care. Measurements are presented from three survey waves using raw score behavioral problem scores provided by caregivers, teachers, and youth. The dependent variable is the square root of the raw Total Problems score from the Child Behavior Checklist (caregivers; [Achenbach, T. M. (1991a). Manual for the child behavior checklist 4-18 and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont]), Teachers Report Form (teachers; [Achenbach, T. M. (1991b). Manual for the teacher's report form and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont]), or Youth Self-Report (youth; [Achenbach, T. M. (1991c). Manual for the youth self-report and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont]). From the perspective of caregivers, children in nonkinship foster homes evidenced higher behavioral problems than did those in birth family homes, kinship foster homes, and other living situations. In contrast (in weighted models), from the perspective of teachers, behavior problems of children in kinship foster homes exceeded those of children in nonkinship foster homes. Child gender interacted with source of report with problem levels for girls being considerably lower than those for boys as reported by teachers, somewhat lower as reported by caregivers, and modestly higher as reported by youth. Ethnicity of caregiver also interacted with report source. In particular, the combination of minority ethnicity and teacher report predicted elevated behavioral problems. Lower educational level of the caregiver predicted increased behavioral problems from the perspective of the teacher but not from that of the caregiver. Multilevel models are developed with and without sampling weights. Implications for practice are discussed.

The efficacy of family reunification practices: reentry rates and correlates of reentry for abused and neglected children reunited with their families

Objective: Since the 1980s Child Protective Services has increasingly relied on family reunification for abused/neglected children rather than long term foster care or adoption. While family reunification practices are controversial, little research is available to inform the debate. This research explores the efficacy of these practices. Methods: This study utilizes two CPS data sources and both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify reentry rates and correlates of reentry for abused and neglected children returned to their families by CPS. Results: System reentry due to additional maltreatment is considerable. Thirty-seven percent of the children reunited with their families reenter the system within 3 1 2 years. Correlates of reentry are identified as; abuse type, CPS history, parental competency, race, criminal history, substance abuse, and social support. Notably, assessments of risk made by caseworkers are found to be unrelated to reentry. Conclusions: The high reentry rate and the limitations of current risk assessment procedures suggest that CPS family reunification practices have not been entirely successful. The identification of specific risks of reentry, such as those revealed in this study, will be helpful in assessing risk on cases. In addition, future studies should explore the systemic deficiencies that contribute to the additional maltreatment that occurs for a sizable proportion of the children served by the system.

Children who wait: Long term foster care or adoption?

This study focuses on children who have been freed for adoption. Researchers examined case records of 147 children in state custody in a mid-Western state in an attempt to identify child characteristics that distinguish between those children whose social service goal was long term foster care and those whose goal was adoption. Results obtained through logistic regression indicated that a model including the variables of race, age, developmental disabilities of the child, and genetic or family history that puts the child at risk for medical intervention is significantly predictive of the social service goal. Children who were not European-American, were older, and had developmental disabilities were more likely to have the case plan of long term foster care, while the presence of genetic or family risk factors increased the chances that adoption would be planned. The authors discuss the implications for child welfare policy and practice.

Brady bunch: A support group for young people in long term foster care

Maeve McColgan and Judith Smith ran a support group for young people in long term foster care during November and December 1996.