NCJ Number
185963
Date Published
1999
Length
2 pages
Annotation
A workshop panel discusses various issues related to the prevention of delinquency among children placed out of their homes for their protection.
Abstract
One panelist advises that having deadlines for the initiation of permanency planning has positive effects, in that the parents are more likely to attempt to change more quickly, and agencies are more likely to develop case plans more quickly. Identifying viable permanent placement options for these children, however, is problematic either because many of them are too old to be considered "adoptable", or there are insufficient placements for children of color. Audience members suggest several alternatives for long-term placements for children, including therapeutic foster care settings and foster parents who have specialized expertise with delinquent children. It is suggested that a more institutionalized foster care placement might work better, such as a group home that is highly structured; is equipped to provide specialized, intensive services; and is supplemented by respite and other crisis services provided by other service providers. One panelist notes that the vast majority of children and families involved in the child protection system respond to the usual interventions; however, there is a challenging group that does not respond to these interventions; these "hard cases" tend to drive the policy debate concerning the goals of the child protection system. This summary of the panel presentation also lists the issues discussed by the audience regarding how the system should respond to various complex fact situations.