NCJ Number
80815
Date Published
1982
Length
181 pages
Annotation
Methodology and a national overview are presented for a study designed to establish a comprehensive national base of information to support improved policy and planning about the out-of-State placement of children at the national, State, and local levels of government.
Abstract
The introduction includes a statement of study objectives, a description of the feasibility study, the survey methodology, and a list of publications associated with the study. In the national overview, descriptive information is reported on the types of bureaucratic structures in the States used to administer the areas of service examined in the study. Results are supplied from the analysis of aggregate data about the number of out-of-State placements reported in 1978. Variations among the States and types of agencies arranging the placements are explored. Results are also given from the analysis of aggregate data about the conditions of children placed out-of-State. Special consideration is given to identifying trends within a State, as well as patterns among the types of agencies. Other topics considered in the overview are the categories of placement and States of destination, costs, reasons associated with out-of-State placement practices, the use of compacts in out-of-State placements, monitoring practices for such placements, the availability and reliability of information in State government, and the placement policies and practices of Federal agencies. The format of the State profiles is outlined. One appendix provides a more detailed discussion of certain methodological aspects of the study and copies of survey instruments. Other appendixes contain national tables of citations by State regarding certain interstate compacts. For entries of the State profiles, see NCJ 80816-18 and 80820.