School behavior of children in kinship care

This paper is based on the first comprehensive study of the health and educational status of children in kinship care, an increasingly frequent arrangement where children are placed in the care of relatives, mostly following neglect or abuse. Questionnaires were completed by teachers of 75% of the 374 school-age children in kinship care in one city, and additional information was obtained from caseworkers, caregivers, and school records. Compared to classroom peers, children in kinship care had poor study habits and attention and concentration skills. Other common problems included overactive, aggressive, and attention-seeking behavior. Most children had average or better relationships with teachers and peers. Multivariate analyses yielded several predictors that explained a modest amount of the variation in the children's school behavior. There was poor to moderate concordance in the assessments of teachers, caregivers, and caseworkers concerning various school related behaviors. Schools, caseworkers, and pediatricians should pay special attention to children in kinship care and ensure that this high-risk group of children receives necessary services.