IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v36y2014icp62-69.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Results from a family finding experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Landsman, Miriam J.
  • Boel-Studt, Shamra
  • Malone, Kelli

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of family-finding, a child welfare practice approach that provides intensive search and engagement efforts for children in foster care and their families with the objectives of strengthening family connections and permanency. We used an experimental design with randomization to family finding or a control group. The family finding approach was more effective than standard child welfare services in engaging a larger network of family and kin, in facilitating a greater number of family team meetings, and in ensuring that every child in care has at least one supportive emotional connection with an adult. Children receiving family finding were more likely to be adopted by relatives and less likely to age out of care without permanency resolution, but other forms of permanency, number of placement disruptions, and subsequent substantiated maltreatment reports did not differ between groups. As a method for strengthening family connections, the evidence in support of family finding is clear; as a mechanism for physical permanency resolution, mixed results from this experiment indicate a need for further research on family finding for specific permanency outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Landsman, Miriam J. & Boel-Studt, Shamra & Malone, Kelli, 2014. "Results from a family finding experiment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 62-69.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:36:y:2014:i:c:p:62-69
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.10.025
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740913003381
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.10.025?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. Sheets, Janess & Wittenstrom, Kim & Fong, Rowena & James, Joyce & Tecci, Michael & Baumann, Donald J. & Rodriguez, Carolyne, 2009. "Evidence-based practice in family group decision-making for Anglo, African American and Hispanic families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(11), pages 1187-1191, November.
    2. Pennell, Joan & Edwards, Myles & Burford, Gale, 2010. "Expedited family group engagement and child permanency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 1012-1019, July.
    3. Rauktis, Mary E. & McCarthy, Sharon & Krackhardt, David & Cahalane, Helen, 2010. "Innovation in child welfare: The adoption and implementation of Family Group Decision Making in Pennsylvania," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 732-739, May.
    4. Lee, Linda J., 2011. "Adult visitation and permanency for children following residential treatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1288-1297, July.
    5. Davis, Inger P. & Landsverk, John & Newton, Rae & Ganger, William, 1996. "Parental visiting and foster care reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 363-382.
    6. Stott, Tonia & Gustavsson, Nora, 2010. "Balancing permanency and stability for youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 619-625, April.
    7. Geen, Rob & Berrick, Jill Duerr, 2002. "Kinship care: an evolving service delivery option," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1-2), pages 1-14.
    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. Tony McGinn & Paul Best & Jason Wilson & Admire Chereni & Mphatso Kamndaya & Aron Shlonsky, 2020. "Family group decision‐making for children at risk of abuse or neglect: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), September.
    2. Sharon Vandivere & Karin E. Malm & Tiffany J. Allen & Sarah Catherine Williams & Amy McKlindon, 2017. "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Family Finding," Evaluation Review, , vol. 41(6), pages 542-567, December.
    3. Semanchin Jones, Annette, 2017. "Youth Connections Scale-Child Version pilot study: Adapted tool for children in out-of-home placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 450-455.
    4. Leon, Scott C. & Saucedo, Deborah J. & Jachymiak, Kristin, 2016. "Keeping it in the family: The impact of a Family Finding intervention on placement, permanency, and well-being outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 163-170.
    5. Goering, Emily Smith & Kaye, Sarah & Reyes, Lucia & Beleal, Stephanie & Almadani, Alyse & Proctor-Frazier, Caitlin & Rosman, Elisa, 2024. "Increasing the likelihood of kinship Placements: Testing the effectiveness of an intensive family search and engagement intervention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Okland, Idun & Oterholm, Inger, 2022. "Strengthening supportive networks for care leavers: A scoping review of social support interventions in child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    7. Smith, Annie & Peled, Maya & Horton, Katie & Martin, Stephanie, 2023. "Engaging care leavers as youth researchers to assess the feasibility of a family finding model," 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. Goodman, Catherine Chase & Potts, Marilyn & Pasztor, Eileen Mayers & Scorzo, Dolores, 2004. "Grandmothers as kinship caregivers: private arrangements compared to public child welfare oversight," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 287-305, March.
    2. Wang, Eugene W. & Lambert, Matthew C. & Johnson, Leah E. & Boudreau, Brock & Breidenbach, Rebecca & Baumann, Donald, 2012. "Expediting permanent placement from foster care systems: The role of family group decision-making," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 845-850.
    3. Rauktis, Mary Elizabeth & Bishop-Fitzpatrick, Lauren & Jung, Nahri & Pennell, Joan, 2013. "Family group decision making: Measuring fidelity to practice principles in public child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 287-295.
    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. 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.
    6. Messing, Jill Theresa, 2006. "From the child's perspective: A qualitative analysis of kinship care placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 1415-1434, December.
    7. Lambert, Matthew C. & Johnson, Leah E. & Wang, Eugene W., 2017. "The impact of family group decision-making on preventing removals," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 89-92.
    8. Wells, Rebecca & Gifford, Elizabeth J., 2013. "Implementing a case management initiative in high-need schools," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 787-796.
    9. Kim, Jangmin & Trahan, Mark & Bellamy, Jennifer & Hall, James A., 2019. "Advancing the innovation of family meeting models: The role of teamwork and parent engagement in improving permanency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 147-155.
    10. Snyder, Elizabeth H. & Lawrence, C. Nicole & Dodge, Kenneth A., 2012. "The impact of system of care support in adherence to wraparound principles in Child and Family Teams in child welfare in North Carolina," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 639-647.
    11. Kim, Jangmin & Choi, Mi Jin & Trahan, Mark H. & Bellamy, Jennifer L. & Pierce, Barbara, 2020. "Does parent engagement enhance children’s emotional well-being in family team conference? Not a panacea for families with intimate partner violence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    12. Simmons-Horton, Sherri Y., 2017. "Providing age-appropriate activities for youth in foster care: Policy implementation process in three states," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 383-391.
    13. Chartier, Stéphanie & Blavier, Adélaïde, 2021. "Should the reintegration of children in foster care into their biological families be the only goal of the legislation governing foster care? Factors influencing the relations between parents and thei," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    14. Spielfogel, Jill E. & Leathers, Sonya J. & Christian, Errick & McMeel, Lorri S., 2011. "Parent management training, relationships with agency staff, and child mental health: Urban foster parents' perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2366-2374.
    15. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    16. Lee, Bethany R. & Shaw, Terry V. & Gove, Britni & Hwang, Jeongha, 2010. "Transitioning from group care to family care: Child welfare worker assessments," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 1770-1777, December.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. 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).

    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:36:y:2014:i:c:p:62-69. 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.