Implementation of Permanency Planning Legislation With Incarcerated Mothers: An Exploratory Study of Mother-child Contact and Mother-Caseworker Contact

• NCJ Number: 130129
• Author(s): A Beckerman
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 218 pages
• Sale Source: State University of New York at Albany
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: State University of New York at Albany -- doctoral dissertation

Annotation

Information from 53 incarcerated mothers with children in foster care and 86 caseworkers managing foster care cases in which the natural mother is imprisoned in New York formed the basis of an analysis of the implementation of the 1980 Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act, which mandated permanency planning for all children in foster care.

Abstract

The law aims to reunify parents and children when out-of-home placement occurs. The research gathered information on the frequency of correspondence and telephone communications between caseworkers and mothers, visits between mothers and their children, and mothers' involvement in case planning and review. Results indicated that written or telephone contact occurred between mothers and caseworkers in the majority of cases. Mothers made most of the contact and often did not receive notification of upcoming court hearings. About half the mothers had visits with their children. Results suggested ways to overcome barriers to visits between mothers and children and to ensure that mothers receive notification of court hearings. Modification of social worker education and inservice training is also recommended. Tables, footnotes, appended study instruments, and 257 references