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Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Predictors of placement stability in long term foster care

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  • Crea, Thomas M.
  • Lopez, Anayeli
  • Taylor, Theresa
  • Underwood, Dawnya

Abstract

Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have migrated to the United States in recent years, particularly from Central America, but also from a range of other countries. These children are fleeing unprecedented levels of violence in their home countries, and often are seeking reunification with parents and family members (i.e., sponsors). Some children are not able to live with a sponsor, and these children are placed in federally funded foster care. Yet, virtually nothing is known about how these children fare during placement. Literature related to domestic child welfare has demonstrated the importance of placement stability to children's future well-being. Using an exploratory design, the purpose of this study is to examine the placement stability of unaccompanied youth while in long term foster care from 2012 to 2015, and how pre-migration, transit, and post-placement risk factors are each associated with placement changes for these children (n=256). Results show that experiencing violence in home countries, and significantly acting out while in care, were associated with a higher likelihood of changing placements. Migration-related trauma was not significant, but fear of returning to home countries, and suffering trauma unrelated to migration, each was associated with a lower likelihood of changing placements. Children from Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) were more likely to have experienced a failed family reunification prior to entering foster care. These results are discussed in light of the need to adopt a global perspective in child welfare that interprets children's behavior in the larger context of pre-migration experiences and culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Crea, Thomas M. & Lopez, Anayeli & Taylor, Theresa & Underwood, Dawnya, 2017. "Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Predictors of placement stability in long term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 93-99.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:73:y:2017:i:c:p:93-99
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.12.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kenny, Mary Anne & Loughry, Maryanne, 2018. "Addressing the limitations of age determination for unaccompanied minors: A way forward," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 15-21.
    2. Van Holen, Frank & Blijkers, Cindy & Trogh, Lenny & West, Delphine & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2020. "Unaccompanied children in Flemish family foster care. Prevalence and associated factors of placement breakdown," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Rania, Nadia & Migliorini, Laura & Fagnini, Lucia, 2018. "Unaccompanied migrant minors: A comparison of new Italian interventions models," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 98-104.
    4. Rip, Jet & Zijlstra, Elianne & Post, Wendy & Kalverboer, Margrite & Knorth, Erik J., 2020. "Cultural matching factors, child factors and fostering factors associated with successful foster placement: An explorative study into the perspectives of unaccompanied refugee children, their foster c," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Cesar, Gabriel T & Decker, Scott H., 2020. "“CPS Sucks, but… I think I’m better off in the system:” Family, social support, & arts-based mentorship in child protective services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    6. Van Holen, Frank & Trogh, Lenny & West, Delphine & Meys, Nina & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2019. "Concept mapping the needs of Flemish nonkinship foster parents who care for unaccompanied refugee minors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 84-92.
    7. Doering-White, John, 2018. "The shifting boundaries of “best interest”: Sheltering unaccompanied Central American minors in transit through Mexico," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 39-47.
    8. María Tomé-Fernández & Marina García-Garnica & Asunción Martínez-Martínez & Eva María Olmedo-Moreno, 2020. "An Analysis of Personal Learning Environments and Age-Related Psychosocial Factors of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-13, May.
    9. Van Holen, Frank & Dewilde, Isabel & Trogh, Lenny & Verheyden, Camille & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2021. "Prevalence and associated factors of placement breakdown of unaccompanied children in Flemish family foster care. A follow-up study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    10. Crea, Thomas M. & Lopez, Anayeli & Hasson, Robert G. & Evans, Kerri & Palleschi, Caroline & Underwood, Dawnya, 2018. "Unaccompanied immigrant children in long term foster care: Identifying needs and best practices from a child welfare perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 56-64.
    11. Rip, Jet & Hasami, Selsela & Post, Wendy & Zijlstra, Elianne & Knorth, Erik J. & Kalverboer, Margrite, 2021. "Perspectives of unaccompanied refugee children, their foster carers and guardians on placement success: Which factors predict multi-informant discrepancies?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    12. Linton, Julie M. & Kennedy, Elizabeth & Shapiro, Alan & Griffin, Marsha, 2018. "Unaccompanied children seeking safe haven: Providing care and supporting well-being of a vulnerable population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 122-132.
    13. Hasson, Robert G. & Crea, Thomas M. & Easton, Scott D. & Evans, Kerri & Underwood, Dawnya, 2021. "Clocking in: Employment outcomes for unaccompanied refugee minors leaving foster care in the United States," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    14. Van Holen, Frank & Verberckmoes, Lobke & Trogh, Lenny & West, Delphine & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2023. "Placement breakdown in Flemish family foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors. Experiences of non-kinship foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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