IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v31y2009i10p1135-1143.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A better path to permanency for children in out-of-home care

Author

Listed:
  • Pine, Barbara A.
  • Spath, Robin
  • Werrbach, Gail B.
  • Jenson, Cary E.
  • Kerman, Benjamin

Abstract

This article reports selected findings from a five-year, comprehensive evaluation of a program designed based on principles and practices found to be most predictive of successful family reunification. The study reported here matched families in the program with families receiving standard state reunification services. Findings indicate that program and non-program children were nearly equally likely to be reunified. However, program children were reunified or achieved an alternative permanent placement sooner, and experienced fewer moves while in care than children in the comparison group. Moreover, program families were less likely to experience a re-referral to child welfare authorities after they were reunified.

Suggested Citation

  • Pine, Barbara A. & Spath, Robin & Werrbach, Gail B. & Jenson, Cary E. & Kerman, Benjamin, 2009. "A better path to permanency for children in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(10), pages 1135-1143, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:31:y:2009:i:10:p:1135-1143
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190-7409(09)00188-1
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    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. Fraser, Mark W. & Walton, Elaine & Lewis, Robert E. & Pecora, Peter J. & Walton, Wendel K., 1996. "An experiment in family reunification: Correlates of outcomes at one-year follow-up," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 335-361.
    2. Ryan, Joseph P. & Garnier, Philip & Zyphur, Michael & Zhai, Fuhua, 2006. "Investigating the effects of caseworker characteristics in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(9), pages 993-1006, September.
    3. Sherraden, Margaret S. & Segal, Uma A., 1996. "Multicultural Issues in Child Welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(6), pages 497-504.
    4. Lewis, Robert E., 1994. "Application and adaptation of intensive family preservation services to use for the reunification of foster children with their biological parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(5-6), pages 339-361.
    5. Choi, Sam & Ryan, Joseph P., 2007. "Co-occurring problems for substance abusing mothers in child welfare: Matching services to improve family reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(11), pages 1395-1410, November.
    6. Festinger, Trudy, 1996. "Going home and returning to foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 383-402.
    7. Marsh, Jeanne C. & Ryan, Joseph P. & Choi, Sam & Testa, Mark F., 2006. "Integrated services for families with multiple problems: Obstacles to family reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(9), pages 1074-1087, September.
    8. Bellamy, Jennifer L., 2008. "Behavioral problems following reunification of children in long-term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 216-228, February.
    9. Maluccio, Anthony N. & Abramczyk, Lois W. & Thomlison, Barbara, 1996. "Family reunification of children in out-of-home care: Research perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 287-305.
    10. Yampolskaya, Svetlana & Armstrong, Mary I. & Vargo, Amy C., 2007. "Factors associated with exiting and reentry into out-of-home care under Community-Based Care in Florida," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(10), pages 1352-1367, October.
    11. Landsverk, John & Davis, Inger & Ganger, William & Newton, Rae & Johnson, Ivory, 1996. "Impact of child psychosocial functioning on reunification from out-of-home placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 447-462.
    12. Barth, Richard P. & Weigensberg, Elizabeth C. & Fisher, Philip A. & Fetrow, Becky & Green, Rebecca L., 2008. "Reentry of elementary aged children following reunification from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 353-364, April.
    13. Courtney, Mark E. & Yin-Ling Irene Wong, 1996. "Comparing the timing of exits from substitute care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 307-334.
    14. Connell, Christian M. & Katz, Karol H. & Saunders, Leon & Tebes, Jacob Kraemer, 2006. "Leaving foster care--the influence of child and case characteristics on foster care exit rates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(7), pages 780-798, July.
    15. Hayward, R. Anna & DePanfilis, Diane, 2007. "Foster children with an incarcerated parent: Predictors of reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(10), pages 1320-1334, October.
    16. Miller, Keith A. & Fisher, Philip A. & Fetrow, Becky & Jordan, Kathy, 2006. "Trouble on the journey home: Reunification failures in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 260-274, 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. Thoburn, June & Cooper, Neil & Brandon, Marian & Connolly, Sara, 2013. "The place of “think family” approaches in child and family social work: Messages from a process evaluation of an English pathfinder service," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 228-236.
    2. Goemans, Anouk & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Damen, Harm & Pijnenburg, Huub & Van Holen, Frank, 2016. "Reunification of foster children: Factors associated with reunification outcomes in Flanders and the Netherlands," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 284-292.
    3. Wells, Kathleen & Marcenko, Maureen O., 2011. "Introduction to the Special Issue: Mothers of children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 419-423, March.
    4. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Borms, Dorien & Teunissen, M.S.L. & Gypen, Laura & Van Holen, Frank, 2023. "Reasons used by Flemish foster care workers in family reunification decision making," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    5. Best, Jared I. & Blakeslee, Jennifer E., 2020. "Perspectives of youth aging out of foster care on relationship strength and closeness in their support networks," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Chambers, Ruth M. & Brocato, Jo & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2016. "An innovative child welfare pilot initiative: Results and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 143-151.
    7. Chambers, Ruth M. & Crutchfield, Rashida M. & Goddu Harper, Stephanie G. & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2018. "Family reunification in child welfare practice: A pilot study of parent and staff experiences," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 221-231.

    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. Goemans, Anouk & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Damen, Harm & Pijnenburg, Huub & Van Holen, Frank, 2016. "Reunification of foster children: Factors associated with reunification outcomes in Flanders and the Netherlands," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 284-292.
    2. Lindner, Abigail Rose & Hanlon, Ryan, 2024. "Outcomes of youth with foster care experiences based on permanency outcome – Adoption, aging out, long-term foster care, and reunification: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    3. Meezan, William & McBeath, Bowen, 2008. "Market-based disparities in foster care outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 388-406, April.
    4. van Santen, Eric, 2010. "Predictors of exit type and length of stay in non-kinship family foster care -- The German experience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1211-1222, October.
    5. Chambers, Ruth M. & Brocato, Jo & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2016. "An innovative child welfare pilot initiative: Results and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 143-151.
    6. Jedwab, Merav & Shaw, Terry V., 2017. "Predictors of reentry into the foster care system: Comparison of children with and without previous removal experience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 177-184.
    7. Davidson, Ryan D. & Tomlinson, Claire S. & Beck, Connie J. & Bowen, Anne M., 2019. "The revolving door of families in the child welfare system: Risk and protective factors associated with families returning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 468-479.
    8. Yampolskaya, Svetlana & Callejas, Linda M., 2020. "The effect of child mental health service use on child safety and permanency in substance misusing families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    9. Akin, Becci A., 2011. "Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 999-1011, June.
    10. Yampolskaya, Svetlana & Sharrock, Patty & Armstrong, Mary I. & Strozier, Anne & Swanke, Jayme, 2014. "Profile of children placed in out-of-home care: Association with permanency outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 195-200.
    11. Esposito, Tonino & Trocmé, Nico & Chabot, Martin & Collin-Vézina, Delphine & Shlonsky, Aron & Sinha, Vandna, 2014. "Family reunification for placed children in Québec, Canada: A longitudinal study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 278-287.
    12. Van Holen, Frank & Belenger, Laurence & Carlier, Elke & Potoms, Babette & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2018. "Short-term family foster care in Flanders: An exploratory study into the factors associated with family reunification decisions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 699-708.
    13. Katz, Colleen C. & Lalayants, Marina & Phillips, Jon D., 2018. "The role of out-of-home caregivers in the achievement of child welfare permanency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 65-71.
    14. Fernandez, Elizabeth & Delfabbro, Paul & Ramia, Ioana & Kovacs, Szilvia, 2019. "Children returning from care: The challenging circumstances of parents in poverty," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 100-111.
    15. Shipe, Stacey L. & Shaw, Terry V. & Betsinger, Sara & Farrell, Jill L., 2017. "Expanding the conceptualization of re-entry: The inter-play between child welfare and juvenile services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 256-262.
    16. Foster, E. Michael & Hillemeier, Marianne M. & Bai, Yu, 2011. "Explaining the disparity in placement instability among African-American and white children in child welfare: A Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 118-125, January.
    17. Barth, Richard P. & Weigensberg, Elizabeth C. & Fisher, Philip A. & Fetrow, Becky & Green, Rebecca L., 2008. "Reentry of elementary aged children following reunification from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 353-364, April.
    18. Grant, Therese & Huggins, Janet & Graham, J. Christopher & Ernst, Cara & Whitney, Nancy & Wilson, Dee, 2011. "Maternal substance abuse and disrupted parenting: Distinguishing mothers who keep their children from those who do not," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2176-2185.
    19. 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).
    20. Kimberlin, Sara E. & Anthony, Elizabeth K. & Austin, Michael J., 2009. "Re-entering foster care: Trends, evidence, and implications," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 471-481, April.

    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:31:y:2009:i:10:p:1135-1143. 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.