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Foster children placed with or separated from siblings: Outcomes based on a national sample

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  • Hegar, Rebecca L.
  • Rosenthal, James A.

Abstract

This study examines a range of outcomes for children in foster care who have siblings, using a large, national U.S. database. Three types of sibling placements are defined: split (child has no siblings in the home), splintered (at least one sibling in the home), and together (all siblings in the home). The study analyzes records (n = 1701) from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing, including Child Protective Services (CPS) and Long-term Foster Care (LTFC) samples. It contributes to the literature in its inclusive definition of siblings, use of three categories for sibling placement status, and use of outcome measures that include the perceptions of foster children. The study reports limited significant findings. Neither foster parents' nor youths' reports of behavioral problems differ by sibling placement status. As rated by teachers, academic performance in the group placed together exceeds that in both of the other groups. For children in kinship homes, teachers also reported less problematic internalizing and externalizing behavior for the splintered and together groups than for the split group. Children in the splintered group also responded more favorably than those in the split group to questions of closeness to the primary caregiver and liking the people in the foster family.

Suggested Citation

  • Hegar, Rebecca L. & Rosenthal, James A., 2011. "Foster children placed with or separated from siblings: Outcomes based on a national sample," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1245-1253, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:33:y:2011:i:7:p:1245-1253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Webster, Daniel & Shlonsky, Aron & Shaw, Terry & Brookhart, M. Alan, 2005. "The ties that bind II: Reunification for siblings in out-of-home care using a statistical technique for examining non-independent observations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 765-782, July.
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    3. Hegar, Rebecca L. & Rosenthal, James A., 2009. "Kinship care and sibling placement: Child behavior, family relationships, and school outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 670-679, June.
    4. Tarren-Sweeney, Michael & Hazell, Philip, 2005. "The mental health and socialization of siblings in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 821-843, July.
    5. Hegar, Rebecca L., 2005. "Sibling placement in foster care and adoption: An overview of international research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 717-739, July.
    6. Shlonsky, Aron & Bellamy, Jennifer & Elkins, Jennifer & Ashare, Caryn J., 2005. "The other kin: Setting the course for research, policy, and practice with siblings in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 697-716, July.
    7. Smith, Maureen C., 1998. "Sibling placement in foster care: An exploration of associated concurrent preschool-aged child functioning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 389-412, June.
    8. Shlonsky, Aron & Elkins, Jennifer & Bellamy, Jennifer & Ashare, Caryn J., 2005. "Siblings in Foster Care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 693-695, July.
    9. Rosenthal, James A. & Schmidt, Dolores & Conner, Jane, 1988. "Predictors of special needs adoption disruption: An exploratory study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 101-117.
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    2. Jones, Christine & Henderson, Gillian & Woods, Ruth, 2019. "Relative strangers: Sibling estrangements experienced by children in out-of-home care and moving towards permanence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 226-235.
    3. Luu, Betty & Wright, Amy Conley & Cashmore, Judith, 2020. "Sibling networks of children adopted from out-of-home care in New South Wales, Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    4. McBeath, Bowen & Kothari, Brianne H. & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Lamson-Siu, Emilie & Bank, Lew & Linares, L. Oriana & Waid, Jeffrey & Sorenson, Paul & Jimenez, Jessica & Pearson, Eva & Shlonsky, Aron, 2014. "Intervening to improve outcomes for siblings in foster care: Conceptual, substantive, and methodological dimensions of a prevention science framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Brown, Jason D. & Gerritts, Julie & Ivanova, Viktoria & Mehta, Nisha & Skrodzki, Donna, 2012. "Motives of aboriginal foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1298-1304.
    6. Kothari, Brianne H. & Godlewski, Bethany & McBeath, Bowen & McGee, Marjorie & Waid, Jeff & Lipscomb, Shannon & Bank, Lew, 2018. "A longitudinal analysis of school discipline events among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 117-125.
    7. Leichtentritt, Judy, 2013. "“It is difficult to be here with my sister but intolerable to be without her”: Intact sibling placement in residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 762-770.
    8. 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.
    9. Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson & McWey, Lenore M. & Waid, Jeffery, 2018. "Sibling relationships of youth in foster care: A predictor of resilience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 247-254.
    10. DiGiovanni, Anna & Font, Sarah A., 2021. "Revisiting conventional wisdom: What do we know from 30 years of research on sibling placement in foster care?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    11. McCarthy, Lauren Pryce & Lee, Bethany R. & Schagrin, Judith & Loysen, Susan, 2020. "“Knowing that I wasn’t alone”: An evaluation of a therapeutic camp reunifying siblings in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    12. Novak, Abigail & Benedini, Kristen, 2020. "Sibling separation and self-reported offending: An examination of the association between sibling placement and offending behavior," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    13. Herbster, Julia M. & Ocasio, Kerrie, 2021. "The complex relationship between sibling contact and child and family well-being in foster care: An exploration of child and family functioning in a pre-permanency cohort," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Perry, Kristin J. & Price, Joseph M., 2018. "Concurrent child history and contextual predictors of children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 125-136.
    15. Hobbs, Sue D. & Bederian-Gardner, Daniel & Ogle, Christin M. & Bakanosky, Sarah & Narr, Rachel & Goodman, Gail S., 2021. "Foster youth and at-risk non-foster youth: A propensity score and structural equation modeling analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    16. Richardson, Sabrina M. & Yates, Tuppett M., 2014. "Siblings in foster care: A relational path to resilience for emancipated foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 378-388.
    17. Onayemi, Olayinka Modupe & Aderinto, Adeyinka Abeeden, 2019. "Factors influencing child placement in adoption practices in South Western Nigeria: In the best interest of the child?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 167-174.

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