NCJ Number
18745
Date Published
1974
Length
153 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF A STUDY DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY AND NUMBER OF DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN NEED OF PLACEMENT, TO WHOSE CUSTODY THEY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED, AND WHERE THEY ARE PLACED.
Abstract
OTHER AREAS INVESTIGATED ARE THE SERVICES NEEDED AND RECEIVED AND THE EXISTENCE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES TO MEET THESE NEEDS. DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM COURT RECORDS, AGENCY AND CASEWORKER INTERVIEWS, AND PLACEMENT HISTORIES. THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BASED UPON A RANDOM SAMPLE OF THE TOTAL ARE PRESENTED UNDER THE HEADINGS OF THE PURPOSES OF THE STUDY WHICH ALSO DESCRIBE CASEWORK GOALS OF 1) MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD, 2) REHABILITATING THE NATURAL FAMILY WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND 3) EFFICIENTLY USING THE RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. THE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN BY AGE, RACE, SEX, AND AGENCY HOLDING COMMITMENT ARE GIVEN FOR BOTH THE TOTAL AND THE RANDOM SAMPLE IN ORDER TO DEFINE GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO ARE WARDS OF THE COUNTY. FIGURES ON THE CHILDREN IN EACH PLACEMENT SITUATION - EMERGENCY, PROTECTIVE, RELATIVE, FOSTER, INSTITUTIONAL, AND GROUP HOME - ARE GIVEN, SUPPLEMENTED BY REPORTS OF CHILDREN WITH OUTSTANDING NEEDS. REPORTS OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE NATURAL FAMILIES AND THEIR OWN FULFILLMENT OF THEIR RESIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE GIVEN TO DESCRIBE ATTEMPTS TO REHABILITATE THE FAMILIES OF CHILDREN IN PLACEMENT. THE INTERACTION AMONG THE COURT, AGENCIES, AND INSTITUTIONS IS ALSO DISCUSSED. AN EXTENSIVE APPENDIX AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)