NCJ Number
55720
Date Published
1977
Length
53 pages
Annotation
THREE ASSESSMENT CENTERS IN ENGLAND FOR CHILDREN PLACED IN RESIDENTIAL CARE WERE SURVEYED WITH REGARD TO THE BACKGROUND OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, PATTERNS OF PLACEMENT, AND CHILD-FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
Abstract
THE STUDY SAMPLE WAS COMPRISED OF 98 CHILDREN WITH AN AVERAGE AGE OF 14.3 YEARS. THESE CHILDREN WERE ASSESSED IN TERMS OF AGE, SEX, LEGAL STATUS, EDUCATION, COURT APPEARANCES, MARITAL STATUS AND AGE OF PARENTS, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING OF PARENTS, NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD, PARENTAL CONTACTS AND VISITING DURING PLACEMENT, REASONS FOR ADMISSION AND SOURCES OF REFERRAL TO ASSESSMENT CENTERS, ABSCONDING CHILDREN AND PREVIOUS PLACEMENTS, NUMBER OF DAYS SPENT IN ASSESSMENT CENTERS, AND PLACEMENT FOLLOWING DISCHARGE FROM ASSESSMENT CENTERS. MOST CHILDREN IN THE SAMPLE WERE LEGITIMATE, AND 88.8 PERCENT CAME FROM EITHER A COMPREHENSIVE OR A SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL. THE MAJORITY HAD APPEARED IN COURT FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSES. DIFFERENCES AMONG THE THREE ASSESSMENT CENTERS WITH REGARD TO THESE FACTORS WERE SLIGHT. THE FAMILY BACKGROUND OF CHILDREN WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHY CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT INTO CARE. ONLY 56 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE CAME FROM FAMILIES WHERE BOTH THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER AND THE BIOLOGICAL MOTHER WERE PRESENT AND MARRIED TO EACH OTHER. AVERAGE AGES OF MALE AND FEMALE PARENTS WERE 44 AND 41 YEARS, RESPECTIVELY, INDICATING THAT CHILDREN DO NOT NECESSARILY COME INTO CARE AFTER BEING BORN TO YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED FAMILIES. THERE WAS A HIGH LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG MALE PARENTS. MOST CHILDREN CAME FROM LARGER THAN AVERAGE FAMILIES HOUSED IN RENTED LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCOMENDATIONS, AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE CAME FROM FAMILIES DESCRIBED AS DISADVANTAGED FROM AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW AND ATYPICAL IN FAMILY STRUCTURE. OF ALL CHILDREN, 75 PERCENT DID NOT RECEIVE VISITS, LETTERS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF COMMUNICATION FROM PARENTS. BETWEEN 40 PERCENT AND 50 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN DID NOT VISIT OR WRITE LETTERS TO THEIR FAMILIES. REASONS FOR REFERRAL TO CENTERS CONCERNED ASSESSMENT AND HOLDING OR EMERGENCY PURPOSES. OF REFERRALS, 57 PERCENT CAME FROM SOCIAL AGENCIES, 39.8 PERCENT CAME FROM COURTS, AND 3.1 PERCENT CAME FROM CHILD GUIDANCE AGENCIES. ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SAMPLE HAD BEEN IN AN ASSESSMENT CENTER BEFORE. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY AT THE 3 CENTERS VARIED FROM 38 DAYS TO 126 DAYS. OUT OF 62 CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED A CASE CONFERENCE, 43 WERE PLACED IN THE IDEAL TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT SPECIFIED BY THE CASE CONFERENCE. SUPPORTING DATA ARE TABULATED, AND THE ASSESSMENT STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED. (DEP)