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Factors affecting the foster care placement decision: an analysis of national survey data

D Lindsey1

  • 1Berkeley Child Welfare Research Center, University of California.

The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|April 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Parental income level is the strongest predictor of whether a child enters foster care or receives in-home services. This finding impacts child welfare policy and resource allocation for families in need.

Area of Science:

  • Child Welfare Studies
  • Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
  • Family Services Research

Background:

  • Over 350,000 children are currently in the U.S. foster care system.
  • Disparities exist in child removal decisions, with similar cases leading to different outcomes.
  • Understanding predictors of foster care placement is crucial for equitable child protective services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key factors differentiating children removed from their homes versus those receiving in-home services.
  • To determine the most significant predictor of foster care placement across different age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized discriminant analysis to compare two groups of children: those in foster care and those receiving home services.
  • Analyzed data on children exhibiting similar problems but experiencing different service pathways.

Main Results:

  • Parental income level emerged as the most significant predictor for child removal across all age categories.
  • Lower income levels were strongly associated with placement in foster care compared to in-home services.

Conclusions:

  • Socioeconomic status, specifically parental income, plays a critical role in child welfare placement decisions.
  • Findings suggest potential biases in the child welfare system related to economic factors.
  • Further research should explore policy implications for equitable resource distribution and support services.

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