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Maltreatment reports and placement outcomes for infants and toddlers in out‐of‐home care
Author(s) -
Frame Laura
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.10031
Subject(s) - neglect , foster care , medicine , welfare , child neglect , cohort , child abuse , welfare system , mental health , child protection , family medicine , substance abuse , cohort study , psychiatry , suicide prevention , poison control , nursing , environmental health , political science , law , pathology
This study examines the relationship between child and family characteristics, child abuse and neglect reporting histories, and placement outcomes for a sample of 1,357 infants and toddlers who were placed in foster care prior to the implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (P.L. 105‐89). A cohort of children entering foster care in six California counties were followed for an average of four years, using data drawn from two management information systems (child protective services and foster care). Among the findings: children with documented prenatal drug and/or alcohol exposure were among those more likely to remain in care during the entire study period, and if they did reunify with their families, were more likely to subsequently reenter care. All children who remained in care were placed after a single report to child protective services. These child welfare outcomes are considered in light of existing child welfare policy and research about developmental risk, yielding practice, policy, and research implications. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.