Article

Birthfamilies as permanency resources for children in long-term foster care

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Abstract

Provisions of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 mandated shorter time frames for making permanency decisions and facilitating adoption. Yet for many children, foster care continued to be a significant portion of their life experiences. This project explored the potential permanency option of birthfamilies and extended kin for children who languished in foster care while being free for adoption. Eighteen children achieved permanent placement with their birthfamilies. In addition, staff found that although many families could not provide permanent placements, they could offer appropriate relationships with the children. This project team recommends viewing family relationships as an integral component where placement is one option on a continuum that includes letters, phone calls, and visits.

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... To address the impact of maltreatment effectively requires acknowledging that maltreatment often stems from underlying problems within a family (Littell & Schuerman, 2002). For instance, parents' substance abuse frequently hampers reunification plans (Brook & McDonald, 2007;Mapp & Steinberg, 2007;McDonald et al., 2007) and permanency (Littell & Schuerman, 2002;Potter & Klein-Rothschild, 2002). Lower likelihood of reunification and permanency may also be associated with inadequate housing, unemployment, poverty, and parent's mental health problems (Courtney, 1994;Eamon & Kopels, 2004;Grella, Needell, Shi, & Hser, 2009;Leathers, 2002;Potter & Klein-Rothschild, 2002;. ...
... Child welfare workers often weigh and pursue several permanency options for a child in foster care, trying first one and then, if necessary, another (for example, reunification followed by kinship care or adoption). Furthermore, very few studies (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007;Schmidt-Tieszen & McDonald, 1998) employing small samples have actually examined exits from long-term foster care (4 to 6 years in foster care on average). McDonald and associates (2007) used 5 distinct models to analyze data on foster care placements; in contrast, the present study used multinomial logistic regression within longitudinal analysis in order to compare simultaneously the effects of given variables on the particular types of permanency leading to exit from long-term foster care. ...
... The present study's findings showed a low proportion of long-term foster children eventually rejoining their families (8.4%) or being adopted (13.9%). Earlier research on long-term foster care placements (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007), however, reported an even lower proportion of such children (6.4%) destined for reunification. Compared to prior studies focusing on foster children generally (i.e., not on long-term foster children specifically), the proportion of children in the present sample who exited to adoption was relatively large (13.9% vs. 6%-9%) Wells & Guo, 1999). ...
Article
Longitudinal analysis and a secondary sample of 411 children were used to examine how child welfare worker engagement with families and parent receipt of needed services shaped the outcomes for children in long-term foster care. The data came from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Multinomial logistic regression showed reunification to be likeliest for neglected children who had caseworkers deeply involved with their families; whose families needed housing and financial assistance but not domestic violence services, specifically; and who were provided appropriately matched services. Adoption was likeliest for neglected children who had caseworkers deeply involved with their families; whose families needed substance-abuse services but not housing services; whose families had a high risk of re-reporting; whose parents were married; who were White and relatively young; and who had experienced foster care for relatively longer periods. Implications for services and training are discussed.
... In addition to the previous focus on contextual resources (e.g., Cox et al., 2003;Lee & Barth, 2009;Mapp & Steinberg, 2007;Rhodes et al., 2003), there is also research suggesting that different personal resources may be important for young people, and particularly for young people in OOHC (Fernandez, 2008) and are associated to higher health-related quality of life (Erhart et al., 2008). In line with this research, the focus of the current paper is on personal resources that might foster positive development for young people in OOHC. ...
... As expected (Hypothesis 2), youth in OOHC reported significantly lower scores for all assessed personal resources than youth in BF. Previous research on resources in the context of OOHC has often examined primarily contextual rather than personal resources (e.g., Cox et al., 2003;Lee & Barth, 2009;Mapp & Steinberg, 2007;Rhodes et al., 2003). In the few studies that also dealt with the personal resources of youth in OOHC, similar results were found as in the present study, for example, Farmer et al. (2008) observed fewer personal strengths in youth in OOHC. ...
Article
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Background: Many youth living in out-of-home care have higher rates of mental health problems and more negative developmental outcomes than youth who live in their biological families. Aims: While previous studies have focused primarily on risk factors that increase the likelihood of behavioral problems, this study focuses on resources that contribute to positive development. Method: As part of the EMPOWERYOU research project, youth aged 11–18 years living in out-of-home care (n = 79, living in foster and adoptive families and residential groups) and living with their biological families (n = 71) participated in an online survey. Youth reported on their personal resources, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and well-being. Results: Youth in out-of-home care reported significantly fewer personal resources, less well-being, and more internalizing and especially externalizing symptoms than youth growing up in their biological families. Path analysis results showed that high self-esteem and high self-control were associated with less externalizing symptoms. Lower empathy/perspective-taking and more self-esteem were associated with less internalizing symptoms. More optimism was associated with increased well-being. These relationships were independent of family placement as there was no moderating effect for placement type. Limitations: Potential limitations arise from focusing solely on self-report and using of a cross-sectional design. Conclusion: The results highlight the relevance of promoting the personal resources of youth in out-of-home care. Since the path analysis did not reveal moderation by family placement, possible interventions do not need to be specified for them, but (already existing) effective interventions can be used.
... After TPR, ties between parents and children are often completely severed and all contact lost (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007), yet children are remaining in care for long periods of time following TPR without a permanent family setting (Kemp & Bodonyi, 2002;Smith, 2003). To address this issue, Texas developed the Replacement with Birth Families Project to rekindle connections that had been lost between children and their birth families (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). ...
... After TPR, ties between parents and children are often completely severed and all contact lost (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007), yet children are remaining in care for long periods of time following TPR without a permanent family setting (Kemp & Bodonyi, 2002;Smith, 2003). To address this issue, Texas developed the Replacement with Birth Families Project to rekindle connections that had been lost between children and their birth families (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). Designed for children who had been in foster care for three years or longer and had no permanent placement plans, the program placed 14 children with biological parents, with the result that several more re-established communication and a connection with family members that had either been lost or previously unidentified. ...
Article
Full-text available
Despite the federal emphasis on achieving timely permanency for children who enter foster care, some children continue to remain in foster care for extended periods, with approximately 20,000 children a year “aging out” of foster care into adulthood without having achieved permanency in a family setting (Dworsky, 200826. Dworsky , A. 2008. “Transitions to adulthood among youth “aging out” of care: What have we learned?.”. In Child welfare research: Advances for practice and policy Edited by: Shlonsky , A. and Lindsey , D. 125–144. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.. [CrossRef]View all references). This literature review focuses on the federal Child and Family Services Review measure that measures agency performance related to achieving permanency for children in foster care for long periods of time. The review summarizes the factors associated with timely discharges from care; while each child and family involved with the child welfare system brings a set of unique challenges and characteristics, research points to common individual and system factors that may be associated with long stays in foster care. Broad strategies that may be linked to achieving permanency are described, followed by explicit models developed to increase the likelihood of timely permanency.
... This is often thought to be a curious finding because at some earlier point, the families were deemed unsafe, requiring removal of the child to foster care. However, even when birth families cannot provide permanent placements, they may be able to offer appropriate relationships with, and a sense of permanency for their children (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). ...
... Research on the experiences of youth leaving foster care as they enter adulthood has noted that they often reconnect, and sometimes live with, members of their family of origin (Collins et al., 2008). It is important to note that even when birth families cannot provide permanent placements, they may be able to offer appropriate relationships with, and a sense of permanency for their children (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). ...
... Further, while many youths do reunify with their families of origin, it is critical for all families to maintain a level of contact, if safe to do so, because the family's well-being influences the placed child, even if the child is not being reunified (Geurts et al., 2012). Further, having ties to their family of origin provides the child with "personal history and identity" (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). BBI suggests that for TRC programs to find and engage families, a paradigm shift must occur in which there are unconditional family connections, a focus on permanency, prioritization of family-finding efforts early, and engagement of community partners in these efforts (Building Bridges Initiative, 2015). ...
... In addition to facilitating case management goals, some early studies looked at ways the phone and Internet could help promote connections and stability for foster youths. For example, Mapp and Steinberg (2007) discussed how foster youths could maintain contact with birth families along a continuum of communication methods depending upon the needs and abilities of both the youth and the birth family. Also, alternative programs have been suggested to help youths maintain electronic records to build a sense of identity and stability throughout multiple placements (Gustavsson & MacEachron, 2008). ...
Article
Mindful of the tremendous risk factors that foster youths encounter, a federal demonstration project sought to increase their protective factors and to mitigate their adverse experiences. The ability to form and maintain healthy relationships is a key protective factor as it helps youths navigate life’s challenges, especially those challenges that result from unresolved loss and grief as a result of being in care. The study was guided by a relational competence framework. The youths were issued smartphones, and their social service providers were given a Web-based application designed to increase communication between the foster youths, their providers, and their mentors. Findings reveal several favorable outcomes associated with the use of the smartphones but also several unintended negative consequences. Recommendations for balancing youths’, caregivers’, and providers’ needs, positions, and rights are discussed. Likewise, the authors discuss the study’s implications for program development that utilizes smartphone technology to increase youths’ ability to experience healthy relationships.
... While it is acknowledged that reunification is not possible for all women and their children, preservation of family ties can be in the child's interests (Mapp, 2002) and therefore reunification should not only encompasses the physical reunion, but a range of ways that facilitate a connection of birth families and kin with their children. These approaches can include: periodic visitation and contact via telephone conversations or letters (Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). When reunification is not achievable, efforts in treatment and rehabilitation for the mother should continue which can positively impact on the mother and potential future children. ...
Article
Full-text available
An estimated 60-70% of Australian children in out of home care have a parent with a substance use disorder (SUD). The assessment of a parent's history and needs and the design of supportive interventions, particularly for mothers who are often the primary carers of children, are important considerations in deciding whether or not family reunification is desirable and possible. It is not clear from the research how the needs of families can be best met. There are no systematic reviews that provide evidence to inform the development of preventative and remedial interventions and related policy options. We undertook a systematic review to examine maternal characteristics and program features that facilitate or pose a barrier to mother-child reunification in contexts where mothers have a SUD. A structured search of nine databases was undertaken to identify peer reviewed literature in English between 2004 and 2014 and examine factors that influenced mother-child reunification in mothers with SUD. We employed a narrative synthesis design to analyse the findings sections of all papers as the methods of the various studies did not permit the pooling of data. A total of 11 studies were included in this review. Findings show that factors such as timeliness of treatment entry, treatment completion and the receipt of matched services, and programs that provided a greater level of integrated care are positively related to reunification. The presence of a mental health disorder, use of opiates and having a greater number of children were barriers to reunification. Women with SUD who have a child in out of home care appear to have multiple unmet needs. Accessible, stigma free and comprehensive integrated care services, as well as greater access to primary health care that address social and medical issues must be considered to improve the physical and psycho-social outcomes of these women and their children. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
... They determine when contact is 'safe' in cases where there is a history of abuse, for example. Mapp & Steinberg (2007) look at birth families' commitment, nurturing capacity and perception of the child's reason for being in care when assessing the potential impact of contact. They also identify the role of the social worker in structuring early visits with birth families to help build relationships. ...
Article
Contact plans for children in adoption and long-term foster care are decided on a case-by-case basis, as directed by the paramountcy principle in the Children Act (1989). The idea that birth family contact helps children resolve issues around attachment, separation and loss, and identity is prevalent in social work practice. However, evidence revealing the detrimental impact of contact has been used to support increasingly restrictive legislation. The current review aims to provide policy-makers and social workers with a resource to guide decisions in permanency planning by evaluating this evidence and reported outcomes for children. The research question and exclusion/inclusion criteria were formulated and used to develop a search strategy. Of the 412 potential titles returned, 11 were of sufficient quality to include in the thematic synthesis. Results were mixed and significantly influenced by moderator variables such as the pre-existing relationship between children and their birth families. Outcomes were particularly positive when there was a collaborative approach between birth families and adoptive parents or foster carers. Outcomes tended to be poorest for children who had ongoing contact with maltreating birth parents. The review findings support current policy and previous research in recommending a more reflexive approach to assessing and planning contact.
... Por otro lado, el alcoholismo está mucho más presente entre las familias lusas, especialmente entre los padres. Este es un dato relevante a la hora de analizar las trayectorias y resultados de la intervención, ya que la literatura científica ha identificado el abuso de sustancias por parte de los padres como uno de los factores claves que afectaría negativamente la posibilidad de que se produzca una reunificación familiar (Brook & McDonald, 2007;Fein, 1993;Harris, 1999;Maluccio & Ainsworth, 2003;Mapp & Steinberg, 2007;Smith, 2003;Terling, 1999;Wade et al., 2010). ...
Article
Full-text available
Los procesos de acogimiento familiar que se producen en cada país dependen de factores históricos y culturales que dan lugar a grandes diferencias internacionales. A pesar de que las comparativas internacionales ofrecen un medio de intercambio de experiencias, lo que permite el aprendizaje mutuo y la transferencia de buenas prácticas, a menudo encontramos enormes barreras para su realización debido, entre otros factores, al limitado acceso a los datos sobre la práctica de la protección infantil. Frente a estas limitaciones, este artículo ofrece una investigación comparativa realizada en España y Portugal cuyo objetivo ha sido la evaluación del acogimiento familiar en dos países donde la investigación en el ámbito de la protección infantil ha sido tradicionalmente desatendida. Sobre una muestra de 357 casos en España y 289 en Portugal se realizó un estudio del perfil de características de los niños acogidos, las familias de origen y los acogedores, así como de los procesos de acogida en ambos países. La comparativa reveló importantes diferencias relacionadas con la mayor edad al inicio del acogimiento de los niños en España; el perfil de los acogedores, con edades más avanzadas, un bajo nivel educativo y llevando a cabo acogidas de más de un niño simultáneamente en Portugal. El estudio comparado nos ha permitido identificar áreas que requieren mayor atención en ambos países, como la renovación generacional del banco de acogedores en Portugal o la necesidad de acelerar los procesos de toma de decisiones para la entrada en acogimiento familiar en España. Se pretende que este artículo sirva de aliento para la recogida de datos y comparación con otros países iberoamericanos.
... Historically, family reunification has been regarded as an "either-or" process, in which children are either reunified with their families or placed into other permanent families such as kinship or adoptive placements (Maluccio et al., 1996;Maluccio, Pine, & Warsh, 1994). However, contemporary arguments calling for a less compartmentalized approach have transformed the meaning of family reunification into a continuum that might include varied outcomes such as physical reunification of the family, periodic visitation with the family of origin, or maintaining partial contact via written or telephone correspondence Mapp & Steinberg, 2007). This perspective considers family reunification to be a dynamic process, and it acknowledges that each child and family has unique needs, that not every parent can be a full-time caregiver, and that families can still maintain attachment ties even when living apart (Whittaker & Maluccio, 2002). ...
Article
Full-text available
In the context of child welfare, family reunification refers to the services that are provided for purposes of returning children who have been placed in out-of-home care to their families of origin. Family reunification is the primary permanency goal for the majority of children who have been placed temporarily outside of their homes. This literature review focuses on the federal Child and Family Services Review composite outcome indicator that seeks to measure agency performance related to family reunification. It describes factors at the level of the agency/system, the family, and the child that are associated with failure to reunify. Practices that have been linked with successful family reunification are described, with particular attention to the period between removal from the home and reunification. The review concludes with questions intended to promote discussion about the use of evidence to support the reunification process within child welfare agencies.
... The scientific literature reviewed suggests that biological families are less likely to be reunited with their children when they are economically disadvantaged (Westat, Inc. 1995;Thomlison et al. 1996), when they are one-parent families Rockhill et al. 2007) and, particularly, when they have problems of alcohol or other drug abuse (Fein 1993;Harris 1999;Brook & McDonald 2007;Mapp & Steinberg 2007;Wade et al. 2010). Great geographical distance between the children and their birth families is also a factor that hinders reunification (Petr & Entriken 1995). ...
Article
In this paper, we analyse reunification processes from family foster care, both kinship and non‐kinship, and the variables associated with them in a Spanish sample. Data collection was carried out after a review of child protection and foster care files, and those responsible for the cases were also consulted. The cases studied were closed, which made it possible to assess the final outcome of the fostering. We found that only one‐fifth of the children return to their birth family after the fostering, and that those in non‐kinship are less likely to do so. Seven factors were associated with family reunification processes: age of the child, kinship care with family co‐operation, drug dependence in parents, neglect due to alcoholism, foster care under voluntary arrangement with visits, short‐term fostering with family co‐operation and parental impossibility due to imprisonment. The contribution of these data takes on particular importance given that the Spanish child protection system keeps no official statistics on the development or outcome of its interventions and records even less information on the factors associated with such outcomes.
... A number of new interventions address best practices for family visits (Gerring, Kemp, & Marcenko, 2008;Mapp & Steinberg, 2007;Palmer, Maiter, & Manji, 2006;Poirer & Simard, 2006;Haight et al., 2002). Data from this paper further demonstrate the potential importance of improved collaboration and communication between biological and foster parents in order to lessen the stress that visits can cause for children. ...
Article
Many foster parents are ill prepared to meet the behavioral needs of children placed in their homes. Research suggests they lack training in evidence-based behavioral interventions and feel unsupported by child welfare professionals. Given the complex needs of foster children and increased rates of placement disruption for foster children with behavior problems, implementation of effective interventions is essential. However, little is known about foster parents' receptivity to these types of interventions. In this qualitative study, we examine urban foster parents' perceptions of the specific elements of parent management training (PMT), an evidence-based treatment for disruptive behaviors that teaches parents to improve desired behaviors and decrease oppositional behaviors by rewarding positive behaviors (positive reinforcement) and responding to negative behaviors with mild, consistent punishments such as timeout or a privilege removal. We present data from four focus groups (N = 38). While the questions focused on parent's perceptions of PMT, responses often related to parent interactions with agency staff. Four strong themes emerged from the data. First, foster parents discussed a need for more support and training in how to address children's behaviors, but also had concerns that some PMT discipline techniques would be ineffective based on their past experiences with foster children. Second, they described how staff communication skills and allegations of child abuse could affect parents' motivation to continue fostering. Third, they expressed a need for more detailed information about children's histories and visits with biological families as the lack of information contributed to difficulty in meeting foster children's needs. They suggested that joint training of foster parents and staff in the intervention could improve their ability to work together to support the child's positive behaviors. Finally, parents reported little involvement in child mental health services and doubted the effectiveness of the mental health services their foster children received.
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There is a profound crisis in the United States' foster care system according to this book. No state has passed the federally mandated Child and Family Service Review; two-thirds of the state systems have faced class-action lawsuits demanding change; and most tellingly, almost half of all children who enter foster care never go home. The field of child welfare has lost its way and is neglecting its fundamental responsibility to the most vulnerable children and families in America. The family stories this book weaves throughout the chapters provide a backdrop for the statistics presented. Amanda, raised in foster care, began having children of her own while still a teen and lost them to the system when she became addicted to drugs. Tracy, brought up by her schizophrenic single mother, gave birth to the first of eight children at age fourteen and saw them all shuffled through foster care as she dealt drugs and went to prison. Both they and the other individuals that are featured in the book spent years without adequate support from social workers or the government before finally achieving a healthier life; many people never do. But despite the clear crisis in child welfare, most calls for reform have focused on unproven prevention methods, not on improving the situation for those already caught in the system. The book argues that real child welfare reform will only occur when the centerpiece of child welfare - reunification, permanency, and foster care - is reaffirmed.
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Birthparent involvement within informal and formal kinship families is examined using cross-sectional data from a National Institute on Aging funded survey of 351 custodial grandmothers. Specifically the research addressed two questions: What are the patterns of parental involvement in kinship families? What contextual and family factors are related to parental involvement in kinship families? Using cluster analysis, three distinct subgroups of birthparents were identified: those with high involvement (30%); moderate involvement (35%), and low birthparent involvement (35%). Study results indicated that birthparents were twice as likely to be in the high involvement subgroup compared to the moderate and low subgroups if there was an informal kinship arrangement; and they were 39% more likely when there was a closer relationship between the grandmother and birthparent. Implications for professionals working to improve this relationship when possible are discussed.
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This paper reviews the research on youth empowerment in seven child welfare programmatic areas. A lack of studies specifically focused on the empowerment of youth in foster care was found. Conceptual perspectives and existing data, however, suggest that the empowerment of youth in and transitioning out of care is essential and should be overtly facilitated through policy and program development.
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This study highlights recent publications on foster care, focusing on concerns for the general pediatrician, including risk factors for foster care placement, outcomes of foster care, healthcare and screening standards, and developmental and mental health problems. Many children and youth in foster care have been exposed to complex trauma prior to foster care placement. As clinicians gain a greater understanding of the life experiences of children in foster care, more preventive and supportive efforts can be implemented in the clinical setting, specifically around health and mental health issues. Enhanced awareness of the issues would enable healthcare professionals to advocate effectively for the needs of children in the child welfare system. To address the complex health and socio-emotional needs of children in foster care, several healthcare models and innovative programs for the care of children in foster care have been developed. This literature review for the past year suggests a lack in program evaluation of these efforts. Pediatricians have the opportunity to address physical and mental health issues for children in foster care, and can provide anticipatory guidance to foster and biological parents who bring their children for evaluation.
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Open adoption is becoming a common element of preparation for and ongoing services in infant and special-needs adoptions. This article discusses the results of a recent survey of 1,268 adoptive parents (1,396 adoptions) in California, in which questions were asked concerning openness and ongoing contact with biological parents. Postplacement contact with biological parents was common in this sample, and adoptive parents seemed cautiously comfortable with contact, with some exceptions.
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Frequency of visiting with biological parents during family foster care placement in two different groups of children with differing adjustments to care was found to be generally low and to be related to both the length of time the children had been in care and the number of placements they had experienced. Those children who were visited more frequently were found to exhibit fewer externalizing and internalizing behavior problems than those visited less frequently or not at all. These behavioral correlates of visiting were, however, to depend on the type of behavior focused on and the degree of adjustment the child had made to family foster care.
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Programs to reunice children in state custody with their families and communities have not proliferated to the same extent as have programs designed to prevent placement. Although reunification is generally recognized as a more complex and formidable undertaking, the nature and extent of the obstacles to reunification are not fully understood. The authors report on five major systems barriers to reunification that were identified through a pilot case management project in a midwestern state. Knowledge of these obstacles can help officials create a context in which reunification programs have optimal opportunity to succeed.
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This study examined the impact of long-term foster care on adolescents. Dimensional analysis was used to investigate adolescent perceptions of impact. Foster care was found to have a negative impact on identity development. The institutional structure of group foster care, diminished status, and stereotypical view of the foster child, contribute to devaluation of the adolescent's self by others. Suggestions for clinical practice and program development are made to reduce devaluating experiences and promote normative adolescent development.
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Research has determined that family visiting for children in long-term foster care can be beneficial for children; however, there is a demonstrated gap between research and practice. This article reviews the existing literature to demonstrate the diverse, positive possibilities for children and develops a theoretical basis for a framework for family visiting for these children. Suggestions for successful family visiting and coping with reactions to visiting are discussed, as are common obstacles and methods for overcoming them.
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Loss and uprootedness are core problems of enforced separation, and are especially hard on children. Children in out-of-home care need help in dealing with separation, particularly in maintaining ties with family. This report details a study of how 36 social workers in 2 Canadian child protection agencies have managed separation issues with the children in their caseload. The study examined children's behavior and expressed feelings related to separation from their families, as well as the responses of their caseworkers, foster caregivers, and placement agencies. Following an introduction noting the importance of maintaining family ties and detailing the study setting, the report's first chapter presents theories of separation and self-concept relevant to children in care. Chapter 2 reviews research knowledge from empirical studies and practice experience. Chapters 3-5 describe and discuss the qualitative findings from workers' discussions in supervision, including children's reactions to separation; workers' interventions; and agency influences on the handling of separation, all of which indicate that children in care have strong emotional ties to their families, but that these often go unrecognized, while families tend to be excluded from their children's lives in care. The report's final chapter draws conclusions from the findings and makes recommendations to address the gaps between principles and practice in child welfare service delivery. Four appendices provide details of the format and content of an in-service training program on separation and inclusive practice that was given to the social workers at the beginning of the study. (HTH)
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Each year, many of the children in family foster care, group homes, or residential treatment centers are reunited with their families. This sourcebook is intended to aid the development of well-trained service providers who work with family reunification. The information here, presented in four parts, can be used for agency staff development programs, in continuing education programs, in schools of social work, in schools of law, or in university social work programs. Part one provides an expanded definition of family reunification as well as a set of underlying principles and guidelines for practice. The section also examines various child welfare issues. Part two delineates the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for successfully reunifying families, while part three presents five curriculum modules on how to increase competence in family reunification. The modules consist of carefully designed sessions which focus on the interrelated concepts involved in family reunification. Handouts are included at the end of each module so as to reinforce teaching opportunities and to provide directions for practice exercises. The last section of the sourcebook includes bibliographies on child welfare, family preservation, permanency planning, race and ethnicity, child maltreatment, adoption, and numerous other issues. (RJM)
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Determined whether protective services workers (PSWs) recognize and emphasize the importance of maintaining parent–child or other attachment relationships. Closed case records of 46 children ranging in age from birth to 17 yrs were examined. Ss had been in foster care for at least 10 days and had been returned to their biological parents after foster-care placement. Information was collected on the history of protective services involvement with Ss' family, foster-care placement, the foster-care family, and parental visitation while Ss were in placement. In 74% of cases, the parent–child attachment relationship was discussed in the case record. However, only 28% of case records explicitly documented visitation. Ss placed with siblings had a shorter mean placement duration than did Ss not placed with siblings. Findings suggest that many PSWs and supervisors are not familiar with the concept of attachment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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The history of foster care and current legally sanctioned permanency planning have centered services squarely on the family as the primary client. Involving the placed child's own family in the placement experience from preadmission to case closure is creating new forms of practice all through the foster care system. Discussion focuses on the use of group training for biological parents soon after placement begins. Three theoretical underpinnings are discussed: the ecological perspective, the empowerment practice framework, and the social support model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Article
"Foster Children in a Life Course Perspective" is a landmark study in foster care research. Based upon four years of ongoing research, the authors studied 585 children in five western states who were placed with the Casey Family Program. This privately endowed program offers long-term foster homes for children and adolescents, especially those who have already been placed in several homes and have had behavioral problems brought on by their unstable life histories. The authors first determined important aspects of the pre-Casey life experiences of these children and then traced the course of their adjustments while in Casey care and afterward. They focused not only on the placements of the children in foster care, but also on changes in living arrangements taking place outside agency systems. There is little precedent for this kind of "tracking" of the child's living experiences in the research literature about foster care. As part of their repertoire of research techniques, the authors used methods of content analysis in order to approximate a longitudinal study of foster children without having to operate within a real time data gathering venture in order to obtain an accurate picture of the nature of the child at entry, during care, and at exit from care. Balancing the hard data are the words of the children themselves, who share their perspectives about the world created for them by the social service systems. The authors offer many suggestions on integrating their findings into practice and they offer detailed information on the treatment of special populations, such as the physically abused and the cognitively impaired. "Foster Children in a Life Course Perspective" offers compelling evidence that foster care, when well conceived and supported, need not be an end-of-the-line alternative. The lessons from this volume, if heeded, will allow us to successfully reshape and reform the provision of foster care and improve the futures of children in need. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Article
Life Planning Services for Older Children is a time-limited and intensive approach for working with youngsters who are or have been in the American foster care system. The program is designed to help children and adolescents explore the way in which their life experiences influence their selfimage as well as to examine the availability of family membership for the present and the future. The program staff work to strengthen existing family connections or to help youngsters look at alternatives. After examining the impact of identity on placement, the author describes some of the methods used by Life Planning Services staff to help placed children meet the challenges of adolescent identity development.
Article
For adolescents in foster care progress towards achieving the developmental tasks of adolescence may be more challenging because of the additional stress of being separated from their birth families. Examined in this study is the influence of identification with birth family on the ability of 116 youth in foster care, in a midwestern state, to develop a self-identity and positive self-esteem.
Building solutions in child protective services
  • I K Berg
  • S Kelly
Berg, I.K., & Kelly, S. (2000). Building solutions in child protective services. New York: Norton.
Still screaming: Birth parents compulsoriiy separated from iheir children
  • L Charlton
  • M Crank
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  • C Oliver
Charlton, L., Crank., M., Kansara, K., & Oliver, C. (1998). Still screaming: Birth parents compulsoriiy separated from iheir children. Manchester, England: After Adoption.
Family visiting in out-of-home care: A guide to practice
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Hess, P.M. & Proch, K.O. (1988). Family visiting in out-of-home care: A guide to practice. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
Together again: Family reunification in foster care
  • B A Pine
  • R Warsh
  • A N Maluccio
Pine, B.A., Warsh, R., & Maluccio, A.N. (1993). Together again: Family reunification in foster care. Washington, D C: Child Welfare League of America.