Articles tagged with Child Welfare
A study by Harvard Medical School found that foster care programs with high-quality services and low caseloads significantly reduced rates of major depression, substance use disorders, and physical health issues among adult alumni. The results show a 50% reduction in rates compared to public system alumni.
A new study found that kinship care provides protective value in terms of well-being and stability for children in out-of-home care. Three years after placement, nearly two-thirds of children in kinship care were in long-lasting settings with family, compared to only a third in foster care.
A study of children who entered out-of-home care found that those placed with relatives had lower rates of behavioral problems three years later. Placement stability was also a key factor in achieving better outcomes for these children.
A new study found that lone asylum-seeking children in the UK are more likely to have experienced high levels of war trauma and combat than those with adult carers. The research suggests that foster care can help reduce their suffering and lower post-traumatic stress symptoms.
A study of 136 abandoned Romanian children found that those placed in foster care had significantly better intellectual development than those remaining in institutions. The research suggests that early intervention can help prevent long-term developmental problems.
A recent study found that foster youth who leave the system are more likely to experience homelessness and have unstable housing situations, leading to higher rates of uninsuredness and unmet medical needs. Approximately half of emancipated participants were still in the foster care system, highlighting the need for continued support.
Researchers aim to understand the transition experience and policy responses for youth leaving foster care at 18, analyzing administrative data and conducting interviews with key stakeholders. The study seeks to inform policies and programs that improve long-term outcomes for this vulnerable population in Massachusetts.
The UK College of Social Work is launching a quality improvement center to study the effects of private agencies on child welfare services. Research and demonstration projects will be conducted to test the effectiveness of selected privatization models.
A recent study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that the Medicaid system fails to identify 28% of children in foster care. The study also discovered that nearly 40% of these children never visited a healthcare provider after being placed in foster care, highlighting concerns about unmet medical needs.
A Penn State study shows that including spending in other service sectors reduces the between-community cost difference from 81% to 18%. The system of care approach also improves youth's chances of finishing high school and making a successful transition to adulthood.
Research found that only 28.3% of children received specialty mental health services, with younger children and those remaining at home facing disproportionately low rates. Increased coordination between local child welfare and mental health agencies led to better service use rates and decreased racial disparities.
The study found no correlation between prenatal cocaine exposure and lower IQ scores, but showed specific effects on subscales such as information, arithmetic, and object assembly. Children in foster or adoptive care had better IQs than those in biological maternal or relative care, despite increased severity of exposure.
Researchers found that unstable placements and episodic foster care increase mental health service use, with older children and those with high physical health care costs at greatest risk. The top 10% of mental health users account for 83% of $2.4 million in mental health costs.
A recent study found that neglect during infancy can have lasting effects on children's social and emotional development. Internationally adopted children who spent time in institutions exhibit difficulties with forming close bonds with parents and displaying wary behavior towards strangers.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are examining the effects of institutional care on brain-behavior relations. The study found that institutionalized children lagged behind those living with their families in cognitive, language abilities, behavioral adjustment, and neurophysiological indicators.
Child development experts may benefit from economists' tools to analyze the effect of resources on key outcomes like schooling, illness, and death. Economists can help broaden perspective on issues like day care by incorporating family resources and preferences into their models.
A nationwide survey of adoption agencies found that 63% of respondents accepted applications from homosexual individuals, with nearly 38% having made at least one adoption. Key factors impacting willingness included religious affiliation and the type of children placed.
The report highlights the need for a universal paid leave policy and flexible scheduling to support working families. Employers and governments are urged to adopt holistic approaches to work-life integration, including joint planning and community initiatives.
A recent study found that experts appointed by courts can significantly impact case outcomes, often favoring the government. The researchers propose introducing new rules to ensure parties have access to expert reports and opinions, promoting a fairer hearing.
Researchers tracked 290 children for three years, finding that those who remained with their mothers had better motor and neurological development compared to those placed in foster or kinship care. The study suggests that environment plays a significant role in the growth patterns of these infants.