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Characteristics and trajectories of treatment foster care youth
- Authors:
- HUSSEY David L., GUO Shenyang
- Journal article citation:
- Child Welfare Journal, 84(4), July 2005, pp.485-506.
- Publisher:
- Child Welfare League of America
Using cross-sectional analyses in conjunction with dynamic modeling (hierarchical linear modeling), the authors profiled 119 treatment foster care youth and constructed behavioral change trajectories for a subset of 97 children. Children generally showed improvements in internalizing the critical pathology problem domains but remained the same on measures of externalizing behaviors and total problem score. The number of previous out-of-home placements was positively associated with increased levels of psychiatric symptomatology and served as the most robust predictor for modeling treatment response trajectories across problem domains. Placement instability places the well-being of children at heightened risk, therefore, accurate assessment of child need and risk in relation to caregiver capacities is critical.
The mental health and socialization of siblings in care
- Authors:
- TARREN-SWEENEY Michael, HAZELL Philip
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 27(7), July 2005, pp.821-843.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The paper describes sibling-related investigations conducted within the first stage of a prospective study of the mental health of 347 children (aged 4–11) in foster and kinship care in New South Wales, Australia (the Children in Care Study). Mental health was measured with the Child Behavior Checklist and with a carer-report instrument designed to measure psychopathology specifically observed among children in care (the Assessment Checklist for Children). A large number of study factors were measured, including several confounders of sibling-related data. The analyses include: the distribution and stability of sibling placements; mental health and socialization estimates stratified by sibling placement status; and a within-pairs comparison of oldest-younger sibling dyads in shared placements. Girls separated from all of their siblings were reported to have significantly poorer mental health and socialization than girls residing with at least one sibling. Various hypotheses accounting for this gender-specific finding are proposed, with a view to being tested in the prospective stage of the study.
On your own without a net: the transition to adulthood for vulnerable populations
- Editors:
- OSGOOD D. Wayne, et al, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 401p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In the decade after high school, young people continue to rely on their families in many ways-sometimes for financial support, sometimes for help with childcare, and sometimes for continued shelter. But what about those young people who confront special difficulties during this period, many of whom can count on little help from their families? This book documents the special challenges facing seven vulnerable populations during the transition to adulthood: former foster care youth, youth formerly involved in the juvenile justice system, youth in the criminal justice system, runaway and homeless youth, former special education students, young people in the mental health system, and youth with physical disabilities. During adolescence, government programs have been a major part of their lives, yet eligibility for most programs typically ends between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. This critical volume shows the unfortunate repercussions of this termination of support and points out the issues that must be addressed to improve these young people's chances of becoming successful adults.
Exploring out-of-home placement as a moderator of help-seeking behavior among adolescents who are high at risk
- Authors:
- UNRAU Yvonne A., GRINNELL Richard M.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 15(6), November 2005, pp.516-530.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study investigated foster or group care placement as a predictor of help-seeking behaviour among adolescents who were at high risk for physical and mental health problems. Data from the 1985 to 1986 wave of the Adolescent Health Care Evaluation Study were used to compare three groups of adolescents: (a) 136 that had experienced placement, (b) 136 that were randomly selected from the larger sample, and (c) 136 matched to the placement group on key variables. Adolescents who experienced placement had more physical and mental health problems compared to the random and matched groups. However, foster or group care placement was associated with help-seeking behaviour only for two problems: depression and conduct disorder. The authors conclude that understanding the impact of placement on help-seeking behaviour 20 years ago fills a critical gap in the current literature and provides an anchor point for examining foster care policy and programming today.
Covariates of length of stay in residential treatment
- Authors:
- BAKER Amy J.L., WULCZYN Fred, DALE Nan
- Journal article citation:
- Child Welfare Journal, 84(3), May 2005, pp.363-386.
- Publisher:
- Child Welfare League of America
This study explores variables associated with length of stay in a child welfare residential treatment centre im the USA. The study followed three entry cohorts (416 boys) from admission through discharge. The researchers conducted event history analyses to examine the rates of discharge over time and the covariates of length of stay. They conducted analyses by discharge destination (reunification, transferred, or ran away). The results demonstrated that mental health issues slowed down rates of discharge for young people who were reunified or transferred. For children who left by running away, age and prior substance history were associated with faster rates of exit. These results have important public policy implications for improving the application of length of stay variables in planning and treatment.
Medication of children and youth in foster care
- Authors:
- GREEN Diane L., HAWKINS Wesley, HAWKINS Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 4(1/2), 2005, pp.43-55.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined the type and frequency of prescribed medication of foster care youth in a south Florida county during April, 2001. Using file reviews and structured interviews with targeted case managers, it was found that 23 percent of the total sample of 722 were currently using medication. Most frequent medications prescribed were Risperdal, Clonidine, Adderall, and Ritalin. Over fifty percent of the subjects had multiple prescriptions with no one pattern found for multiple prescribed drugs. The most frequent behaviors and symptoms found for those prescribed medication were sadness, delinquency history, and argumentative behavior. Approximately three-fourths of the youth had medications monitored, while the most frequent schedule of monitoring was monthly. The foster care placement was most likely to monitor medication while a psychiatrist did almost all prescribing. The most frequent placement was therapeutic foster home while the most frequent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnoses were Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depression, and Bi-Polar Disorder. One most striking finding for mental health was that those currently on medication were much more likely to have been Baker Acted (Florida law that provides a reasonable process for involuntarily committing those whose conduct makes them dangerous to themselves or others) than non-medication foster care youth. Finally, few barriers to services were found for the medication sample in receiving medication services. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Factors associated with homelessness of adolescents under supervision of the youth protection system
- Authors:
- ROBERT Marie, PAUZE Robert, FOURNIER Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adolescence, 28(2), April 2005, pp.215-230.
- Publisher:
- Academic Press
There are two factors that limit our knowledge of the risk factors associated with homelessness among runaway adolescents, namely (1) visible homelessness subjects, whereas most adolescents in fact use “private” resources and (2) failure to use an adequate control group to identify risk factors associated specifically with homelessness. This study compares the characteristics of two groups of youths under the supervision of the youth protection system, according to the presence or absence of periods of homelessness. The results throw light on the factors underlying the shift from “at risk” to “homeless”, showing that youths with experience of homelessness are more likely to have been placed in substitute home environments, have experienced significant relationship difficulties with one of their parents (deterioration of the parent/youth relationship and parental abuse) and to have been diagnosed with behavioural disorders. The findings suggest that the decision to place young people under supervision is based more on the dynamic between risk factors rather than on the existence of behavioural problems.
Homelessness and drug abuse among young men who have sex with men in New York City: a preliminary epidemiological trajectory
- Authors:
- CLATTS Michael C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adolescence, 28(2), April 2005, pp.201-214.
- Publisher:
- Academic Press
Profiles the role of homelessness in drug and sexual risk in a population of young men who have sex with men (YMSM). A cross-sectional survey of 569 respondents was collected between 2000 and 2001 in New York City with the goal of examining the import of homelessness in increased risk for the onset of drug and sexual risk. Three subgroups were compared and contrasted: (1) YMSM with no history of homelessness, (2) YMSM with a past history of homelessness but who were not homeless at the time of the interview, and (3) YMSM who were currently homeless. For each group, the prevalence of a broad range of stressful life events (including foster care and runaway episodes, involvement in the criminal justice system, etc.) was described. As well as selected mental health problems (including past suicide attempts, current depression, and selected help-seeking variables). Additionally, the prevalence of selected drug and sexual risk, including exposure to a broad range of illegal substances, current use of illegal drugs, and prevalence of lifetime exposure to sex work was detailed. Finally, an event history analysis approach was used to examine the timing of negative life experiences and homelessness relative to the onset of drug and sexual risk. Results show that high levels of background negative life experiences and manifest mental health distress are seen in all three groups.