Effectiveness of Therapeutic Foster Care for the Prevention of Violence: A Systematic Review

• NCJ Number: 209530
• Journal: American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume: 28 Issue: 2S1 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 72-90
• Author(s): Robert A. Hahn Ph.D.; Oleg Bilukha M.D.; Jessica Lowy M.P.H; Alex Crosby M.D.; Mindy T. Fullilove M.D.; Akiva Liberman Ph.D.; Eve Moscicki Sc.D.; Susan Snyder Ph.D.; Farris Tuma Sc.D.; Phaedra Corso Ph.D.; Amanda Schofield M.P.H
• Date Published: February 2005
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: Task Force on Community Prevention Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents the results of a review, conducted by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services assessing the effectiveness of therapeutic foster care programs in preventing violence among juveniles.

Abstract

In programs of therapeutic foster care, youth who cannot live at home are placed in a foster home and provided with a structured environment for learning social and emotional skills. Evaluations have been conducted examining the effects of therapeutic foster care on violence among children with severe emotional disturbance and adolescents with chronic delinquency. The results of these studies have been mixed on their effectiveness in prevention violence, with some finding insufficient evidence and others indicating evidence that this intervention can reduce subsequent violence. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends therapeutic foster care in the reduction of violence among adolescents with chronic delinquency. This review addresses the effects of therapeutic foster care on violent outcomes among juveniles. Findings are presented from a review of studies that assessed the following violent outcomes: violence, reported by self or others, including violent crimes, and specifically assault, homicide, robbery, and rape. Therapeutic foster care studies were reviewed if they assessed violent outcomes or proxies for violent outcomes. Results are reported in two areas: intervention effectiveness and economic efficiency and research issues. The results indicate substantial positive effects in the prevention of violence among adolescents with histories of chronic delinquency, with reductions of more than 70 percent for felony assaults during the first year after completion of the program. These beneficial effects may be associated with the intense collaboration of program personnel with foster parents and other involved individuals. This review can prove to be a useful and powerful tool for policymakers, program planners and implementers, and researchers. References and appendix A-A1