A Functional Approach to Reducing Runaway Behavior and Stabilizing Placements for Adolescents in Foster Care

Clark, Hewitt B.; Crosland, Kimberly; Geller, David A.; Cripe, Michael M; Kenney, Terresa; Neff, Bryon; Dunlap, Glen

doi:10.1177/1049731508314265

Cited by 46 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…A report by the Chapin Hall Center found that youth who ran away from foster care frequently explained their runaway behavior as attempting to reconnect with family or friends (Courtney et al, 2005). One practice implication for permanency outcomes would be to create interventions and supports that assist youth with being connected in their foster care placements (for example, Clark et al, 2008). Youth development theory suggests that these connections are essential as are opportunities for contribution and participation.…”

Section: Social Work Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption

Akin

2011

Children and Youth Services Review

189

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Nearly 800,000 children spend time in foster care each year, with many children experiencing lengthy stays and exiting without a permanent family. The main objective of this study was to identify which child and placement characteristics were significant predictors of foster care exit to three types of permanency: reunification, guardianship, and adoption. A nonexperimental longitudinal design was used to observe an annual entry cohort of 3,351 children who entered Kansas foster care in state fiscal year 2006. The sample was observed for 30 to 42 months. Data sources were two state administrative databases, one which tracks all children in foster care and one on mental health services. The primary data analysis was competing risks survival analysis. Study findings showed that children in foster care exit to different types of permanency at different rates. Reunification occurs the most quickly, followed by guardianship, and then adoption. While patterns of predictors varied by type of permanency, three major categories of important permanency predictors were identified: 1) demographic characteristics of age at entry and race, 2) clinical needs related to child disabilities and mental health problems, and 3) continuity and connections represented by kin placements, sibling placements, early stability, and absence of runaway events. Implications suggested that social work practice be age-differentiated and culturally appropriate, and that children's needs related to disabilities and mental health problems be addressed with thorough assessment and evidencebased services. Social work practices should also strive to keep children connected to family and in stable placements. The major social work theory implication suggested that permanency theory balance the primordial solidarities principle that stresses family connections with the bureaucratic institutions principle that emphasizes structures for ensuring stability. In addition, ii this study's findings indicated the need to improve and expand timely permanency for more children. Policy implications included: using guardianship as a viable permanency option for more children; revising federal policy to promote the discovery and implementation of new, creative approaches to permanency; and, reforming the current financing structure to be more flexible and better aligned with the promotion of permanency outcomes.iii

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Section: Social Work Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption

Akin

2011

Children and Youth Services Review

189

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“…Efforts to assist older youth in homeless families through tailored support and, where appropriate, reunification efforts may have long‐lasting benefits. Older children and adolescents separated from their biological families are vulnerable relative to their peers in a variety of ways, including greater risks of being homeless on their own (Clark et al., 2008; Courtney & Dworsky, 2006) and other issues that may create challenges for their continued development such as dropout, unplanned pregnancy, and mental health and substance use problems (Courtney & Dworsky, 2006). Addressing these issues at this critical juncture, before youth face adult legal and economic responsibilities and risks, may reduce the likelihood of future generations of homeless families.…”

Section: Recommendations: Addressing the Needs Of Children And Familimentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the ecology and development of children and families experiencing homelessness: Implications for practice, supportive services, and policy.

Kilmer¹,

Cook²,

Crusto³

et al. 2012

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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The experience of homelessness can pervade multiple levels and facets of a child and family's world. In view of the historical risks in the lives of children who are experiencing homelessness (e.g., growing up under conditions of poverty, exposure to family violence), it is clear that interventions, services, and supports need to be equally comprehensive to have a positive influence on child functioning and development. Consequently, service systems, providers, and community supports need to address the circumstances of children and families experiencing homelessness and, more specifically, better attend to their ecologies and the diverse factors that can affect their well-being and adjustment trajectories. Such an approach is needed to better understand the range of factors and influences on the development and adaptation of these youngsters at home, at school, and with their peers as well as to guide the identification and implementation of adequate family-centered services and supports.

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“…Previous studies have attempted to predict the factors involved with running away from out‐of‐home care. Recently, Clark and colleagues (), and Courtney and Zinn (), provided a comprehensive summary of research findings regarding significant predictors of running away from out‐of‐home care in the USA. Child age and gender, have been found to be related to running away from out‐of‐home care (Biehal and Wade, ; Courtney and Zinn, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Running Away from Out‐of‐Home Care: A Multilevel Analysis

Kim

Chenot

Sok-Ho³

2013

Children & Society

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Previous research suggests that the likelihood of runaway episodes among children in out-of-home care varies across different communities/regions. However, the potential regional variation has rarely been reflected in attempts to understand runaway episodes in out-of-home care systems. The current study examines the effects of child characteristics, family characteristics and child welfare system-related characteristics on the likelihood of runaway episodes among children in out-of-home care, while accounting for county-level variations in the risk of runaway behaviours. The authors employed multilevel analyses using data on children aged 12-17 from the 2009 AFCARS database. Results demonstrate that the likelihood of runaway episodes varied across counties. Accounting for county variation, children's ages, gender, diagnosed clinical conditions, family structures, number of removals, number of placements, removal manner, and case plan goals significantly predicted runaway status. Implications are discussed.

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A Functional Approach to Reducing Runaway Behavior and Stabilizing Placements for Adolescents in Foster Care

Cited by 46 publications

References 25 publications

Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption

Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption

Understanding the ecology and development of children and families experiencing homelessness: Implications for practice, supportive services, and policy.

Running Away from Out‐of‐Home Care: A Multilevel Analysis

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