Foster children and placement stability: The role of child care assistance

Placement stability: What role do the different types of family foster care play?

BACKGROUND

Placement stability is a major concern after a child enters foster care. Several studies have focused on the different factors associated with the risk of moving the child. However, the role and effect of the type of family foster care is less clear.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of children and their biological mothers, which are associated with initial type of care (non-relative foster care (NRFC), kinship foster care (KFC) and foster-to-adopt family (FAF)), and to examine the association between the type of care and placement stability.

METHODS

Case files of 361 Canadian children aged <12 years (X = 4.64; SD = 3.75) were reviewed during the window period of five years after their first out-of-home placement (NRFC n = 156; KC n = 155; FAF n = 50).

RESULTS

Our results show that children in FAF and KFC are initially placed at a younger age than children in the NRFC group. They also indicate that children placed in NRFC have a more significant accumulation of problems than the other two groups (FAF and KFC). Also, boys are placed in NRFC more often than girls, who are more frequently placed in FAF. Multivariate analysis revealed that children placed in FAF are less likely to face a high number of movements, even after controlling for the child's age, gender, and cumulative problems.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the role of foster care type at entry into foster care. It supports clinical discussion for an optimal response for neglected and maltreated children, as well as better services for foster parents, according to their specific needs.

A plain view of poor health in a land of plenty

This article provides a clear description of U.S. health spending that is on a steep upward trajectory, and U.S. health outcomes on a downward trajectory, as compared to other nations. The article is written to inform social workers and other health professionals, who observe the poor health of their clients in a high-resource nation, while the nation banters about health care reform. This report presents international and national health resource and outcome comparisons, with implications for sustainable support for U.S population health and national capabilities.