Non-parental care in childhood and adult outcomes: double whammy for minority children?

Abstract

BackgroundChildren who spent time in non-parental care report poor outcomes in many aspects of their later lives on average, but less is known about differences by ethnicity. We examined whether the health, socioeconomic, family, and living arrangements of adults who had been in non-parental care across the first three decades of adult life varied by ethnicity (White, Black, South Asian).MethodsWe used longitudinal data from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study (LS). Participants were aged<18 years and had never been married at baseline of each census year from 1971-2001 (n= 672,648). Separately for each adult follow-up age group (20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49), multi-level regression models were used to compare socioeconomic, family, and living arrangements by non-parental care and ethnicity interactions.ResultsAdverse adult outcomes following an experience of non-parental care were conditional on the interaction of non-parental care with ethnicity, mainly in the socioeconomic domain. More negative adult outcomes among the ethnic minority groups following non-parental care in childhood were not found consistently: for some outcomes the White group had poorer outcomes; South Asian individuals had better outcomes than Black people who had been in non-parental care but the within-ethnic group differences were smaller for Black than for South Asian children; and findings differed across the lifespan from early to mid-adulthood as work and family lives evolved.ConclusionWe uncovered much complexity, with minority ethnicity moderating the non-parental care to adult outcomes relationship in both positive and negative ways. Previous work that has sampled children from the population with experience of non-parental care provides incomplete evidence from which to base policy decisions.

Examining the Mental Health Care Needs and Outcomes of Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) in Australia

“…Those exiting from residential care or with a history of placement instability had the poorest mental health outcomes. Studies suggested a possible connection between particular care types and psychosocial difficulties, as has been noted in international literature (Sacker et al, 2021).…”

“…Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (OOHC), often called care leavers, are recognised globally as a vulnerable group due to their often traumatic experiences prior to entering care, the varied quality and stability of care placements offered and the accelerated transition to independent adulthood that many encounter irrespective of their developmental needs and capacity (OECD, 2022). As a result, they may experience life-long inequalities and disadvantages compared to their non-care peers (Sacker et al, 2021).…”

What Matters and Who Matters to Young People Leaving Care

“…In addition, in the US, it has been known for many years that Black children are disproportionately involved in the child welfare system (Dettlaff and Boyd, 2022). Sacker et al, 2021, andsee Achdut et al, 2023 for a recent international review and longitudinal study in Israel of long-term employment outcomes for care-leavers. Murray et al, 2020;Batty et al, 2022;Sacker et al, 2022.…”

“The most significant child welfare reform in a generation”: An examination of the strategies used by the Home Stretch campaign

“…Care leavers are regarded globally as a vulnerable group. They often experience long‐term social exclusion and inequalities compared with their non‐care peers (OECD, 2022; Sacker et al, 2021). Australian research has found that many care leavers have limited ongoing participation in education; exit care directly into homeless service systems and/or endure ongoing housing instability; spend time in the criminal justice system; or for those who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander experience disconnection from culture and community (Beauchamp, 2016; McDowall, 2022).…”

“…Additionally, the quality and stability of placements offered within the OOHC system vary greatly, and whilst some children are effectively supported to recover from their earlier traumas, others do not receive adequate care. On balance, those who have been placed in kinship care do best followed by those in foster care, and those in residential group home care have the poorest outcomes (Sacker et al, 2021).…”