Factors delaying out-of-home placement of children with severe handicaps

Sixty-three parents of children with severe handicaps who were placed out of the home were interviewed regarding why they did not place their child sooner. Results suggested that parents' reported feelings of attachment and guilt were strong delayers of placement; the availability of formal supportive services also helped to delay the placement decision. Factor analysis of the Factors Preventing Placement Scale utilized in the study indicated three main factors that delay placement. Guilt Feelings, Social Support, and Family Relationships. Implications of these findings were discussed in terms of the relative influences of parental cognitions and support services in delaying the placement decision.