Foster Care for Child Maltreatment: Impact on Delinquent Behavior (From Coping With Family Violence: Research and Policy Perspectives, P 224-237, 1988, Gerald T Hotaling, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-114444)

• NCJ Number: 114458
• Author(s): D K Runyan; C L Gould
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This historical cohort study was designed to examine the impact of foster care on abused children, particularly with respect to subsequent involvement in delinquent behavior.

Abstract

The analysis used data from 220 children in six counties in North Carolina. It compared rates of subsequent juvenile delinquency between 114 current foster children who had been maltreated and a matched group of 106 maltreated children who had been left in their own homes. In the majority of cases the matching was based on age at report, year of report, sex, and race. However, the groups differed in that the foster children had less-educated mothers, more episodes of prior maltreatment, and a higher incidence of physical abuse. Over an average of 8 years of care, the average number of placements, excluding emergency shelters, was 2.6 homes. However, the children in foster care were not at an increased overall risk of juvenile delinquency when compared to peers left in their own homes. Little evidence existed for a therapeutic benefit of foster care. The finding of increased convictions for assault among foster care children may represent a demonstration of a lack of therapeutic effect. In addition, the number of foster home placements was positively related to the number of delinquency convictions, suggesting the need for improved resources for foster children experiencing frequent moves. Tables and 28 references.