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The Role of Kinship and Siblings in Young Children's Placement Preferences

Kelli L Dickerson1, Thomas D Lyon2, Jodi A Quas1

  • 1University of California, Irvine, USA.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|June 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Young children removed from home due to maltreatment expressed placement preferences. Findings suggest children

Area of Science:

  • Child Welfare
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Legal Studies

Background:

  • Limited research exists on the placement preferences of young children (under 12) removed from home due to maltreatment.
  • Existing legal frameworks often presume young children are incapable of forming reasoned judgments about their best interests in placement.
  • This assumption regarding children's competence in placement decisions has been infrequently tested.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the stated placement preferences of young children (4-11 years) who have been removed from their homes due to maltreatment.
  • To assess whether young children's preferences align with or diverge from statutory placement considerations.
  • To explore the validity of assuming young children's incompetence in expressing placement preferences.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was administered to 100 children aged 4 to 11 years.
  • Participants were children who had been removed from their homes due to maltreatment.
  • The survey specifically asked about their preferences regarding out-of-home placement.

Main Results:

  • Children were less inclined to prefer returning home when placed with siblings or kin.
  • These stated preferences align with established statutory placement preferences in child welfare.
  • Young children demonstrated preferences that may indicate a more mature understanding than legally presumed.

Conclusions:

  • Young children removed from home due to maltreatment can express reasoned placement preferences.
  • The legal assumption of incompetence in young children regarding placement may be unfounded.
  • Incorporating children's stated preferences, even from a young age, could enhance placement appropriateness.

Keywords:
anything related to child abusechild abuseneglect

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