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SUMMARY
This brief, the first in a five-part series, shares the findings of a comprehensive survey of state-level kinship care policies.
Kinship care is an important option to consider for kids moving through the child welfare system. A timely placement with relatives or close family friends can reduce the trauma a child experiences from being separated from their parents, siblings, friends, communities and even social support resources, such as schools and churches.
The survey results presented…
Research shows that youth who leave foster care to live independently are often at risk of homelessness, less education, unemployment/poverty, and mental health issues. There are a number of reasons for this increased risk. A variety of aftercare services for youth leaving foster care are designed to help address these risks.
The purpose of this study was to examine trends in participation and understand the experiences of youth transitioning from foster care who were involved in the Iowa Aftercare Services Program. The authors examine trends in participation, services received,…
Transition-age youth with foster care involvement (TAY) face significant risks for food insecurity and other hardships in early adulthood. Using representative survey data of youth transitioning out of foster care in California, the authors examine the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity. They find that about 30% of study participants were food insecure at ages 19, 21, and 23.
They also identify multiple risk and protective factors associated with being food insecure, such as TAY’s sexual identity and receipt of public benefits. The results of their study offer life-stage-specific…
Abstract
This study followed PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic review of literature published from 2002 to 2022 to assess the differences in outcomes of children and youth who were adopted out of foster care compared to children and youth in foster care (CYFC) who were in other permanency placements (reunified, aged out, long-term foster care). The search was carried out from May 27, 2022…
Abstract
Scholars largely agree that placements with relative caregivers are best for children. However, the regulations that jurisdictions apply to determine eligibility for foster care licensure may limit relative caregivers’ access to the benefits of licensure. This analysis considers foster care regulations in three jurisdictions and the effects of policy decisions on eligibility for relative caregivers and placement options for children in out-of-home care. Finland, New Zealand, and Wisconsin all have a stated priority for placement of children with relative caregivers.…
From 2021 to 2023, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken administrative actions to prioritize the implementation of Family First prevention services. These actions minimize traumatic deployments of CPS, reduce the use of family separations, and bolster support for families providing kinship care. In this brief, the authors highlight where progress has been made—and where the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) could still take additional steps in 2024.
The child welfare system has disproportionately failed AIAN, Black, and Latinx children and…
Kinship placement has been shown to be superior to foster care in increasing permanency and safety for children. Despite the many benefits of kinship placement, kinship caregivers receive less support than foster family, this creates unique challenges.
This study analyzes data from a statewide kinship caregiver survey which collected demographic data, challenges, and needs. 865 kinship caregivers reported their top three challenges and needs. Needs were stratified by caregiver and child characteristics. The authors found that there are striking differences in reported challenges and needs…
Abstract:
More information is needed for child welfare agencies to understand service utilization across systems and identify ways to better meet the complex needs of children in foster care.
This chapter summarizes results of a study of high service use, or “superutilization,” among children in foster care. The study linked administrative data from child welfare, Medicaid, and other services for two sites. After defining superutilization, latent class analysis was used to identify types of superutilization and predictive analytics were used to identify characteristics at…
Foster homes promote optimal outcomes among youth who experience difficulties in their original families. However, foster caregivers often face various challenges and difficulties. Guided by ecological framework, the current study examined how multiple factors from foster caregivers’ surrounding environments impact satisfaction and retention among 462 foster caregivers in the United States.
Regression analyses suggested that certain demographics, parenting characteristics, and agency characteristics were associated with foster care retention, levels of satisfaction, and overall foster care…
Highlights:
- This study examined teenage parenthood and incarceration based on initial placement in kinship or non-relative family foster care.
- Using a longitudinal, linked administrative dataset and serial mediation, initial placement setting was not linked to young adult outcomes directly.
- However, initial placement setting was associated with foster care experiences, which in turn were related to teenage parenthood and incarceration.