IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v108y2020ics019074091930427x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Different profiles, different needs: An exploration and analysis of characteristics of children in kinship care and their parents

Author

Listed:
  • Dorval, Amilie
  • Lamothe, Josianne
  • Hélie, Sonia
  • Poirier, Marie-Andrée

Abstract

The characteristics of children and their parents before placement in kinship care are poorly documented in the literature. The present exploratory study aimed to describe and profile the characteristics of children placed in kinship care and their mothers, as reported before placement. A latent class analysis performed on a cohort of 172 children aged 0-–12 years and placed in kinship care revealed 3 distinct profiles. The first profile accounted for 25% of the whole cohort and is characterized by high rates of child functioning difficulties (ADHD, learning problem, mental health and developmental delay). The second profile (55%) had the youngest children with the fewest number of reported psychosocial difficulties out of all three profiles. Finally, the third group stood out with the highest prevalence of three variables: attachment problems in children, a history of maltreatment experienced by the mother and a high probability of permanent placement. Despite a high prevalence of mothers with a history of maltreatment, children in this group were often placed with their maternal grand-parents. Results suggest that families affected by kinship care have different vulnerabilities that may translate into different needs for services. Clinical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorval, Amilie & Lamothe, Josianne & Hélie, Sonia & Poirier, Marie-Andrée, 2020. "Different profiles, different needs: An exploration and analysis of characteristics of children in kinship care and their parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:108:y:2020:i:c:s019074091930427x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104531
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019074091930427X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104531?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuddeback, Gary S., 2004. "Kinship family foster care: a methodological and substantive synthesis of research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(7), pages 623-639, July.
    2. del Valle, Jorge F. & López, Mónica & Montserrat, Carme & Bravo, Amaia, 2009. "Twenty years of foster care in Spain: Profiles, patterns and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 847-853, August.
    3. Scott Cunningham & Keith Finlay, 2013. "Parental Substance Use And Foster Care: Evidence From Two Methamphetamine Supply Shocks," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(1), pages 764-782, January.
    4. Holtan, Amy, 2008. "Family types and social integration in kinship foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(9), pages 1022-1036, September.
    5. Berrick, Jill Duerr & Barth, Richard P. & Needell, Barbara, 1994. "A comparison of kinship foster homes and foster family homes: Implications for kinship foster care as family preservation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1-2), pages 33-63.
    6. Oosterman, Mirjam & Schuengel, Carlo & Wim Slot, N. & Bullens, Ruud A.R. & Doreleijers, Theo A.H., 2007. "Disruptions in foster care: A review and meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 53-76, January.
    7. Iglehart, Alfreda P., 1995. "Readiness for independence: Comparison of foster care, kinship care, and non-foster care adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 417-432.
    8. Beeman, Sandra K. & Kim, Hyungmo & Bullerdick, Susan K., 2000. "Factors affecting placement of children in kinship and nonkinship foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 37-54, January.
    9. Ehrle, Jennifer & Geen, Rob, 2002. "Kin and non-kin foster care--findings from a National Survey," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1-2), pages 15-35.
    10. Xu, Yanfeng & Bright, Charlotte Lyn, 2018. "Children's mental health and its predictors in kinship and non-kinship foster care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 243-262.
    11. Wells, Kathleen & Guo, Shenyang, 2003. "Mothers' Welfare and Work Income and Reunification with Children in Foster Care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 203-224, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sharley, Victoria & Leonard, Emmerentia & Ananias, Janetta & Ottaway, Heather, 2020. "Child fosterage in Namibia: The impact of informal care arrangements upon children’s health and welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Maria Manuela Calheiros & Sandra Ornelas & Eunice Magalhães & Margarida Vaz Garrido, 2022. "Profiles of Young Children Involved with Child Protection Services in Portugal," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(3), pages 933-958, June.
    3. Rabassa, Judit & Fuentes-Peláez, Nuria, 2023. "Effectiveness of group intervention in improving kinship care families’ outcomes: A systematic review of group interventions aimed at kinship caregivers and youth in kinship care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xu, Yanfeng & Bright, Charlotte Lyn, 2018. "Children's mental health and its predictors in kinship and non-kinship foster care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 243-262.
    2. Perry, Gretchen & Daly, Martin & Kotler, Jennifer, 2012. "Placement stability in kinship and non-kin foster care: A Canadian study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 460-465.
    3. Font, Sarah A. & Sattler, Kierra M.P. & Gershoff, Elizabeth T., 2018. "Measurement and correlates of foster care placement moves," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 248-258.
    4. del Valle, Jorge F. & López, Mónica & Montserrat, Carme & Bravo, Amaia, 2009. "Twenty years of foster care in Spain: Profiles, patterns and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 847-853, August.
    5. Koh, Eun, 2010. "Permanency outcomes of children in kinship and non-kinship foster care: Testing the external validity of kinship effects," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 389-398, March.
    6. Wu, Qi & White, Kevin R. & Coleman, Kanisha L., 2015. "Effects of kinship care on behavioral problems by child age: A propensity score analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1-8.
    7. Strozier, Anne L. & Krisman, Kerry, 2007. "Capturing caregiver data: An examination of kinship care custodial arrangements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 226-246, February.
    8. Lawler, Michael J., 2008. "Maltreated children's emotional availability with kin and non-kin foster mothers: A sociobiological perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1131-1143, October.
    9. Dolan, Melissa M. & Casanueva, Cecilia & Smith, Keith R. & Bradley, Robert H., 2009. "Parenting and the home environment provided by grandmothers of children in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 784-796, July.
    10. Cuddeback, Gary S., 2004. "Kinship family foster care: a methodological and substantive synthesis of research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(7), pages 623-639, July.
    11. Jedwab, Merav & Xu, Yanfeng & Shaw, Terry V., 2020. "Kinship care first? Factors associated with placement moves in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    12. Liao, Minli & White, Kevin R., 2014. "Post-permanency service needs, service utilization, and placement discontinuity for kinship versus non-kinship families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 370-378.
    13. Perry, Gretchen & Daly, Martin & Macfarlan, Shane, 2014. "Maternal foster families provide more stable placements than paternal families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 155-159.
    14. Berrick, Jill Duerr & Hernandez, Julia, 2016. "Developing consistent and transparent kinship care policy and practice: State mandated, mediated, and independent care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 24-33.
    15. Gómez, Anthony, 2021. "Associations between family resilience and health outcomes among kinship caregivers and their children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    16. Hayduk Iryna, 2017. "The Effect of Kinship Placement Laws on Foster Children’s Well-Being," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, February.
    17. Lee, Daniel Hyung Jik & Huerta, Christina & Farmer, Elizabeth M.Z., 2021. "Kinship navigation: Facilitating permanency and equity for youth in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. del Valle, Jorge F. & Lázaro-Visa, Susana & López, Mónica & Bravo, Amaia, 2011. "Leaving family care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2475-2481.
    19. Kang, Hyunah & Chung, Ick-Joong & Chun, JongSerl & Nho, Choong Rai & Woo, Seokjin, 2014. "The outcomes of foster care in South Korea ten years after its foundation: A comparison with institutional care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 135-143.
    20. Lipscomb, Shannon T. & Lewis, Kendra M. & Masyn, Katherine E. & Meloy, Mary Elizabeth, 2012. "Child care assistance for families involved in the child welfare system: Predicting child care subsidy use and stability," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2454-2463.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:108:y:2020:i:c:s019074091930427x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.