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Youth with disabilities in the United States Child Welfare System

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  • Slayter, Elspeth

Abstract

Existing literature suggests that youth with disabilities are known to be at increased risk of maltreatment in the form of abuse and/or neglect. Little is known, however, about the experiences of youth with disabilities who are living in foster care or who are supervised by child protection authorities. This study establishes a baseline estimate of the prevalence of youth with disabilities living in foster care, documents reasons for child protection system involvement, identifies placement types while youth are in care and explores case outcomes. This cross-sectional, exploratory study draws on data from the 2012 Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) for foster youth in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A sample of youth with disabilities (N=36.492) and a comparison group without disabilities (N=601.539) were identified. Findings about demographics, reasons for child removal, foster care placements, permanency planning goals and case outcomes are presented. Findings have implications for the prevention the removal of youth from caregivers, the need for family supports to prevent foster care involvement, the promotion of community inclusion of foster youth while in foster care and the need for inter-system collaboration at the transitional age stage.

Suggested Citation

  • Slayter, Elspeth, 2016. "Youth with disabilities in the United States Child Welfare System," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 155-165.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:64:y:2016:i:c:p:155-165
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.03.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Geenen, Sarah & Powers, Laurie E., 2007. ""Tomorrow is another problem": The experiences of youth in foster care during their transition into adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1085-1101, August.
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    7. Parish, Susan L. & Rose, Roderick A. & Dababnah, Sarah & Yoo, Joan & Cassiman, Shawn A., 2012. "State-level income inequality and family burden of US families raising children with special health care needs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(3), pages 399-407.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liang, Alicia & Lashewicz, Bonnie & Mitchell, Jennifer & Smith, Walter, 2021. "Mixed perceptions of self-determination: Struggles facing youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Cheatham, Leah P. & Randolph, Karen A. & Boltz, Laura D., 2020. "Youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care: Examining prevalence and predicting positive outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    3. Marisa Shenk & Gina Livermore, "undated". "Federal and State Expenditures for Children with Disabilities in Fiscal Year 2014," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 8470e3a686614a8bad9b3926f, Mathematica Policy Research.
    4. Hill, Katharine, 2017. "Prevalence, experiences, and characteristics of children and youth who enter foster care through voluntary placement agreements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 62-70.
    5. Seltzer, Rebecca R. & Johnson, Sara B. & Minkovitz, Cynthia S., 2017. "Medical complexity and placement outcomes for children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 285-293.
    6. McCauley, Erin, 2021. "Differential risks: How disability shapes risk in the transition to adulthood for youth who age out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    7. Kelly, Berni & Webb, Paul & Davidson, Gavin & Pinkerton, John & McShane, Theresa, 2022. "Raising the profile of care leavers with mental health and/or intellectual disabilities: A contribution from Northern Ireland," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).

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