Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Historical, Developmental, and Behavioral Factors Associated with Foster Care Challenges

  • Published:
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three agency-based studies explored the associations of traumatic child histories, as well as their developmental, health and behavioral problems with foster care challenges such as placement instability. The findings represent the convergent perspectives of child welfare workers and foster parents in small cities in Ontario. Alone and in aggregate, child and familial traumas and problems were very strong predictors of various foster care challenges. Foster parent training and other support needs are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barber, J. G., Delfabbro, P. H., & Cooper, L. L. (2001). The predictors of unsuccessful transition to foster care. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42, 785-790.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, R. P. (2001). Policy implications of foster family characteristics. Family Relations, 50, 16-19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartholet, E. (1999). Nobody's children: Abuse and neglect, foster drift, and the adoption alternative. Boston: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedict, M. I., & White, R. B. (1991). Factors associated with foster care length of stay. Child Welfare, 70, 45-58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilaver, L. A., Javdes, P. K., Koepke, D., & Goerge, R. M. (1999). The health of children in foster care. Social Service Review, 73, 401-417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J., & Calder, P. (1999). Concept mapping the challenges of foster parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 21, 481-495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buehler, C., Orme, J. G., Post, J., & Patterson, D. A. (2000). The long-term correlates of family foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 22, 595-625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carten, A. J. (1996). Mothers in recovery: Rebuilding families in the aftermath of addiction. Social Work, 41, 214-223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, C. S., Peterson, N. L., & Meier, J. H. (1987). Variables associated with disrupted placement in a select sample of abused and neglected children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 11, 75-86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Courtney, M. E. (1994). The foster care crisis (discussion paper no. 1048-94). University of Wisconsin–Madison: Institute for Research on Poverty.

    Google Scholar 

  • Courtney, M. E. (1998). The costs of child protection in the context of welfare reform. The Future of Children, 8, 88-103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, C., & Herbert, D. (1997). The state of the children: An examination of government-run foster care (NCPA report no. 210). Dallas, TX: Institute for Children, National Center for Policy Analysis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale, G., Jr., Kendall, J. C., & Schultz, J. S. (1999). A proposal for universal medical and mental health screenings for children entering foster care. In P. A. Curtis, G. Dale, Jr., & J. C. Kendall (Eds.), The foster care crisis: Translating research into policy and practice (pp. 175-192). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denby, R., Rindfleisch, N., & Bean, G. (1999). Predictors of foster parents' satisfaction and intent to continue to foster. Child Abuse & Neglect, 23, 287-303.

    Google Scholar 

  • dosReis, S., Zito, J. M., Safer, D. J., & Soeken, K. L. (2001). Mental health services for youths in foster care and disabled youths. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 1094-1099.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faver, C. A., Crawford, S. L., & Combs-Orme, T. (dy1999). Services for child maltreatment: Challenges for research and practice. Children and Youth Services Review, 21, 89-109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleiss, J. L. (1981). Statistical methods for rates and proportions. New York: Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frame, L., Berrick, J. D., & Brodowski, M. L. (2000). Understanding reentry to out-of-home care for reunified infants. Child Welfare, 79, 339-369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorey, K. M., Perry, J. L., & Chacko, J. (1997). A prevalence survey of Roman Catholic Children's Aid Society cases in Essex County, Ontario: Preliminary workload study. Unpublished manuscript.

  • Holland, P., & Gorey, K. M. (1999). Survey of children and families served by a Children's Aid Society in southwestern Ontario: Preliminary validation of case complexity measures. Canadian Social Work, 1, 14-24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, P., & Gorey, K. M. (2000). Child welfare client complexity profiles: A vehicle for planning effective interventions and establishing more effective social policies. Canadian Social Work, 2, 148-153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosmer, D.W., & Lemeshow, S. (2000). Applied logistic regression (2nd ed.). New York:Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kupsinel, M. M.,&Dubsky, D. D. (1999). Behaviorally impaired children in out-of-home care. Child Welfare, 78, 297-310.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNicol, T., & Tash, C. (2001). Parental substance abuse and development of children in family foster care. Child Welfare, 80, 239-256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miedema, B. (1999). Mothering for the state: The paradox of fostering. Halifax, NS: Fernwood Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milan, S. E., & Pinderhughes, E. E. (2000). Factors influencing maltreated children's early adjustment in foster care. Development and Psychopathology, 12, 63-81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morehourse, E., & Tobler, W. S. (2000). Preventing and reducing substance use among institutionalized adolescents. Adolescence, 35, 1-28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, R. R., Litrownik, A. J., & Landsverk, J. A. (2000). Children and youth in foster care: Disentangling the relationship between problem behaviors and number of placements. Child Abuse & Neglect, 24, 1363-1374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (2001). Funding and service analysis—April, 2000 to March, 2001. Toronto.

  • Orme, J. G., & Buehler, C. (2001). Foster family characteristics and behavioral and emotional problems of foster children: A narrative review. Family Relations, 50, 3-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosser, W. R. (1997). Family structure, substitute care, and educational achievement (discussion paper no. 1140-97). University of Wisconsin—Madison: Institute for Research on Poverty.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, L. A., &Pfeiffer, S. I. (1997). Effectiveness of treatment foster care with children and adolescents:A review of outcome studies. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 581-588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes K. W., Orme, J. G., & Buehler, C. (2001). A comparison of family foster parents who quit, consider quitting, and plan to continue fostering. Social Service Review, 75, 84-114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchirico, A., & Jablonka, K. (2000). Keeping foster children connected to their biological parents: The impact of foster parent training and support. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 17, 185-203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, J., DiLorenzo, P., Zukoski, M., Ross, P. E., Amster, B. J., & Schlegel, D. (1999). Starting young: Improving the health and developmental outcomes of infants and toddlers in the child welfare system. Child Welfare, 78, 148-165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, B. D., Zima, B. T., Elliott, M. N., Burnam, M. A., Shahinfar, A., Fox, N. A., & Leavitt, L. A. (2001). Violence exposure among school-age children in foster care: Relationship to distress symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 588-594.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, and Children's Bureau (2000). Adoption and foster care analysis and reporting system (AFCARS). http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/stats/tarreport/rpt0100/ar0100.htm. (September, 2000).

  • Vogel, C. A. (1999). Using administrative databases to examine factors affecting length of stay in substitute care. Children and Youth Services Review, 21, 677-690.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, K., & Guo, S. (1999). Reunification and reentry of foster children. Children and Youth Services Review, 21, 273-294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, K., Sinclair, I., & Gibbs, I. (2000). The trouble with foster care: The impact of stressful events on foster careers. British Journal of Social Work, 30, 193-209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeanah, C. H., Larrieu, J. A., Heller, S. S., Valliere, J., Hinshaw-Fuselier, S., Aoki, Y., & Drilling, M. (2001). Evaluation of a preventive intervention for maltreated infants and toddlers in foster care. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 214-221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zima, B. T., Bussing, R., Crecelius, G. M., Kaufman, A., & Belin, T. R. (1999a). Psychotropic medication treatment among school-age children in foster care. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 9, 135-147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zima, B. T., Bussing, R., Crecelius, G. M., Kaufman, A., & Belin, T. R. (1999b). Psychotropic medication use among children in foster care: Relationship to severe psychiatric disorders. American Journal of Public Health, 89, 1732-1735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zima, B. T., Bussing, R., Freeman, S., Yang, X., Belin, T. R., & Forness, S. R. (2000). Behavior problems, academic skill delays and school failure among school-aged children in foster care: Their relationships to placement characteristics. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 9, 87-103.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Holland and Associates, Amherstburg, Ontario

    Patrick Holland

  2. School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada

    Kevin M. Gorey

Authors
  1. Patrick Holland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kevin M. Gorey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holland, P., Gorey, K.M. Historical, Developmental, and Behavioral Factors Associated with Foster Care Challenges. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 21, 117–135 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CASW.0000022727.40123.95

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CASW.0000022727.40123.95

Search

Navigation