Family characteristics and measures of behavior in foster and nonfoster children.

Abstract

Behavior scores of maltreated children in foster care were compared with those of a homogeneous group of children who had never been in care. Mean scores for foster children were significantly higher than those for controls. After controlling for group differences in family structure and stability, differences in behavior scores between groups were not significant.

Specialized foster care and group home care: Similarities and differences in the characteristics of children in care

“…Questions in the survey centered on the types of services provided within the agency, staffing matters, and administrators' general comments about the future of group care. The survey was built upon previous studies in the out-of-home care field (i.e., Cohen, 1986;Fanshel, Finch, & Grundy;1989;Fitzharris, 1985;Hulsey & White, 1989;Lawder, Poulin, & Andrews, 1986). The survey was also reviewed by four residential treatment providers who are prominent in the two statewide group care associations.…”

“…Few studies describe the level of behavioral disturbance among foster children. Hulsey and White (1989) studied the behavior of maltreated children placed in group homes and a similar group of children who remained with their families. The maltreated children in group homes showed more problematic behaviors than the children at home, however, the instability of the children's home environment provided better prediction of behavioral disturbances than any other factor.…”

A comparison of kinship foster homes and foster family homes: Implications for kinship foster care as family preservation

“…Other studies of foster parents were also consulted (see Cohen, 1986;Fanshel, Finch, & Grundy, 1989;Fitzharris, 1985;Hulsey & White, 1989;Lawder, Poulin & Andrews, 1986), as were the few studies available for kinship foster parents (Bell, 1992;Thornton, 1987).…”

Group care for children in California: Trends in the '90s

“…The survey design built upon previous studies in the out-of-home care field (i.e., Cohen, 1986;Fanshel, Finch, & Grundy;1989;Fitzharris, 1985;Hulsey & White, 1989;Lawder, Poulin, & Andrews, 1986). The survey was also reviewed by four residential treatment providers who are prominent in the two state-wide group care associations.…”

“…Some studies have been designed to draw a portrait of the typical child in group care (Fitzharris, 1985;Hulsey & White, 1989;Wells & Whittington, 1991), but few studies have combined agency-level data with child-centered information. This study was conducted to describe the current state of group care in California, a state which claims more children in out-of-home care than any other state in the nation.…”