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A cross-sectional examination of birth rates among adolescent girls in foster care

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  • King, Bryn
  • Putnam-Hornstein, Emily
  • Cederbaum, Julie A.
  • Needell, Barbara

Abstract

Although research has suggested that girls in foster care are at high risk of teen birth, limited data have been available from which rates could be calculated and characterized. This California study was based on a dataset constructed by probabilistically matching foster care records to statewide birth records. Using these linked data, we computed cross-sectional birth rate estimates for 15- to 17-year-old girls who were in foster care during each year from 2006 to 2010, characterizing the placement-related experiences and timing of births. Results indicated that although only a small number of 15- to 17-year-old girls in foster care gave birth each year, their birth rate was somewhat higher than the rate observed in the general population. Girls who were in foster care for less time or experienced greater placement instability had higher rates of birth. In terms of race and ethnicity, Black and Latina adolescents in foster care were more likely to give birth than their White counterparts. During the 5-year period, there were no detectable trends in the overall birth rate of girls in foster care, despite significant declines in the birth rates of 15–17year olds in California overall. This linked data contributes new information that can be used to inform the targeting of prevention and intervention resources to girls involved with child protective services.

Suggested Citation

  • King, Bryn & Putnam-Hornstein, Emily & Cederbaum, Julie A. & Needell, Barbara, 2014. "A cross-sectional examination of birth rates among adolescent girls in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 179-186.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:36:y:2014:i:c:p:179-186
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.11.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Shpiegel, Svetlana & Grinnell-Davis, Claudette & King, Bryn, 2019. "“My body is strong and amazing”: Embodied experiences of pregnancy and birth among young women in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 199-205.
    2. King, Bryn & Fallon, Barbara & Filippelli, Joanne & Black, Tara & O'Connor, Carolyn, 2018. "Troubled teens and challenged caregivers: Characteristics associated with the decision to provide child welfare services to adolescents in Ontario, Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 205-215.
    3. Lieberman, Lisa D. & Kaplan, Alejandra & Scholey, Laura & Kohomban, Jeremy & Lausell-Bryant, Linda, 2020. "Strategic partners: Enhancing the ability of foster care agencies to serve the special needs of young mothers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. Roberts, Louise & Long, Sara Jayne & Young, Honor & Hewitt, Gillian & Murphy, Simon & Moore, Graham F., 2018. "Sexual health outcomes for young people in state care: Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 281-288.
    5. Shpiegel, Svetlana & Cascardi, Michele, 2018. "The impact of early childbirth on socioeconomic outcomes and risk indicators of females transitioning out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 1-8.
    6. Roberts, Louise & Meakings, Sarah & Forrester, Donald & Smith, Audra & Shelton, Katherine, 2017. "Care-leavers and their children placed for adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 355-361.
    7. Radey, Melissa & Boel-Studt, Shamra & Collins, Christopher J., 2023. "“Taking it day by day”: Maternity group homes in the lives of mothers aging out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Roberts, Louise & Maxwell, Nina & Elliott, Martin, 2019. "When young people in and leaving state care become parents: What happens and why?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Zárate-Alva, Nair Elizabeth & Sala-Roca, Josefina, 2019. "Socio-emotional skills of girls and young mothers in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 50-56.
    10. Combs, Katie Massey & Cook Lee, Mackenzie & Ramseyer Winter, Virginia & Taussig, Heather, 2022. "Sexual and reproductive health protective factors among adolescents with child welfare involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    11. Dorsey, Marquitta S. & King, Dione & Howard-Howell, Tyriesa & Dyson, Yarneccia, 2022. "Culturally responsive sexual health interventions for black adolescent females in the United States: A systematic review of the literature, 2010–2020," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    12. Lovett, Nicholas & Xue, Yuhan, 2020. "Family first or the kindness of strangers? Foster care placements and adult outcomes," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    13. Shpiegel, Svetlana & Ocasio, Kerrie, 2015. "Functioning patterns among older adolescents in foster care: Results from a cluster analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 227-235.
    14. Shpiegel, Svetlana & Fleming, Tammi & Mishraky, Lisa & VanWert, Sheila & Goetz, Blanca & Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & King, Bryn, 2021. "Factors associated with first and repeat births among females emancipating from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    15. Boustani, Maya M. & Frazier, Stacy L. & Lesperance, Nephtalie, 2017. "Sexual health programming for vulnerable youth: Improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 375-383.
    16. Ben-David, Vered & Jonson-Reid, Melissa & Bright, Charlotte & Drake, Brett, 2016. "Family formation: A positive outcome for vulnerable young women?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 57-66.
    17. Brännström, Lars & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2015. "Risk factors for teenage childbirths among child welfare clients: Findings from Sweden," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 44-51.
    18. Ross, Christina & Kools, Susan & Laughon, Kathryn, 2020. "“It was only me against the world.” Female African American Adolescents’ perspectives on their sexual and reproductive health learning and experiences while in foster care: Implications for positive y," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    19. Ramseyer Winter, Virginia & Brandon-Friedman, Richard A. & Ely, Gretchen E., 2016. "Sexual health behaviors and outcomes among current and former foster youth: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-14.
    20. Potter, Marina Haddock & Font, Sarah A., 2019. "Parenting influences on adolescent sexual risk-taking: Differences by child welfare placement status," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 134-144.
    21. Sarah A. Font & Maria Cancian & Lawrence M. Berger, 2019. "Prevalence and Risk Factors for Early Motherhood Among Low-Income, Maltreated, and Foster Youth," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(1), pages 261-284, February.
    22. PettyJohn, Morgan E. & Reid, Taylor A. & Miller, Elizabeth & Bogen, Katherine W. & McCauley, Heather L., 2021. "Reproductive coercion, intimate partner violence, and pregnancy risk among adolescent women with a history of foster care involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

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