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An organizational view of privatization: Is the private foster care agency superior to the public foster care agency?

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  • Steen, Julie A.
  • Smith, Sarahlin

Abstract

Foster care privatization is emerging as an increasingly popular policy option. One of the assumptions behind this movement towards privatization is a belief in the superiority of the private foster care agency. In an effort to assess this assumption, literature regarding public and private foster care agencies was reviewed with a special attention to the organizational and environmental factors derived from systems theory. Overall, the evidence did not support this assumption, as both public and private foster care agencies had their own areas of relative advantage. Recommendations are offered for future study of organizational characteristics in the foster care field.

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  • Steen, Julie A. & Smith, Sarahlin, 2012. "An organizational view of privatization: Is the private foster care agency superior to the public foster care agency?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 851-858.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:34:y:2012:i:4:p:851-858
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.01.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Griffiths, Austin & Holderfield-Gaither, Emily & Funge, Simon P. & Warfel, Erin T., 2021. "Satisfaction, willingness, and well-being: Examining the perceptions of a statewide sample of public and private foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Kroeger, Sarah & Monahan, Tess & Perry, Brendan, 2022. "How Can Research Improve Foster Care Policy and Practice?," MPRA Paper 113969, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Stanley, Nicky & Austerberry, Helen & Bilson, Andy & Farrelly, Nicola & Hussein, Shereen & Larkins, Cath & Manthorpe, Jill & Ridley, Julie, 2013. "Turning away from the public sector in children's out-of-home care: An English experiment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 33-39.
    4. Huggins-Hoyt, Kimberly Y. & Briggs, Harold E. & Mowbray, Orion & Allen, Junior Lloyd, 2019. "Privatization, racial disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Outcomes for foster children of color," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 125-131.
    5. Armstrong, Mary I. & Swanke, Jayme R. & Strozier, Anne & Yampolskaya, Svetlana & Sharrock, Patty J., 2013. "Recent changes in the child welfare system: One state's experience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1712-1718.

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