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Arranging stability for children in long-term out-of-home care

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  • Christiansen, Øivin
  • Havik, Toril
  • Anderssen, Norman

Abstract

There is a widespread concern for children in public care who experience repeated moves and a lack of opportunity to settle down. The aim of the present analysis was to examine the placement histories of children in long-term out-of-home care and to gain knowledge of important factors that affect stability as reported by children, parents, and social workers. Within a prospective research design, the placement histories of 70 Norwegian children were followed through eight years, at several time points. Both counting and qualitative analyses were conducted. The findings emphasize the significance of carrying out a thorough investigation of the specific circumstances of each placement and placement change when the question of breakdown and stability is raised. The informants' accounts of placement breakdowns reflect the considerable responsibility assigned to foster carers for ensuring stability for children in care. The paper discusses premises and implications of this assumption, and points out that more realistic expectations and increased attention to the children's views and attitudes of the placement may contribute to greater stability in care.

Suggested Citation

  • Christiansen, Øivin & Havik, Toril & Anderssen, Norman, 2010. "Arranging stability for children in long-term out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 913-921, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:32:y:2010:i:7:p:913-921
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oosterman, Mirjam & Schuengel, Carlo & Wim Slot, N. & Bullens, Ruud A.R. & Doreleijers, Theo A.H., 2007. "Disruptions in foster care: A review and meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 53-76, January.
    2. Barber, James & Delfabbro, Paul, 2005. "Children's adjustment to long-term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 329-340, March.
    3. Rutter, Michael, 2000. "Children in substitute care: Some conceptual considerations and research implications," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(9-10), pages 685-703.
    4. Ward, Harriet, 2009. "Patterns of instability: Moves within the care system, their reasons, contexts and consequences," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(10), pages 1113-1118, October.
    5. Fernandez, Elizabeth, 2009. "Children's wellbeing in care: Evidence from a longitudinal study of outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(10), pages 1092-1100, October.
    6. Bullock, Roger & Courtney, Mark E. & Parker, Roy & Sinclair, Ian & Thoburn, June, 2006. "Can the corporate state parent?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(11), pages 1344-1358, November.
    7. Brown, Jason D. & Bednar, Lisa M., 2006. "Foster parent perceptions of placement breakdown," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 1497-1511, December.
    8. Hyde, Justeen & Kammerer, Nina, 2009. "Adolescents' perspectives on placement moves and congregate settings: Complex and cumulative instabilities in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 265-273, February.
    9. Unrau, Yvonne A. & Seita, John R. & Putney, Kristin S., 2008. "Former foster youth remember multiple placement moves: A journey of loss and hope," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1256-1266, November.
    10. Osborn, Alexandra L. & Delfabbro, Paul & Barber, James G., 2008. "The psychosocial functioning and family background of children experiencing significant placement instability in Australian out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(8), pages 847-860, August.
    11. Unrau, Yvonne A., 2007. "Research on placement moves: Seeking the perspective of foster children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 122-137, January.
    12. James, Sigrid & Landsverk, John & Slymen, Donald J., 2004. "Placement movement in out-of-home care: patterns and predictors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 185-206, February.
    13. Fernandez, Elizabeth, 1999. "Pathways in substitute care: Representation of placement careers of children using event history analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 177-216, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Holtan, Amy & Handegård, Bjørn Helge & Thørnblad, Renee & Vis, Svein Arild, 2013. "Placement disruption in long-term kinship and nonkinship foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1087-1094.
    2. Stenason, Lauren & Romano, Elisa, 2023. "Number of placement changes among young people in care: Youth and caregiver associations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Rau, Thea & Mayer, Sophia & Kiesel, Vera & Ohlert, Jeannine & Fegert, Jörg M. & Keller, Ferdinand, 2020. "Are there indicators for children and adolescents who prematurely end their stays in residential care?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Tregeagle, Susan & Cox, Elizabeth & Forbes, Catherine & Humphreys, Cathy & O'Neill, Cas, 2011. "Worker time and the cost of stability," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1149-1158, July.
    5. Khoo, Evelyn & Skoog, Viktoria & Dalin, Rolf, 2012. "In and out of care. A profile and analysis of children in the out-of-home care system in Sweden," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 900-907.
    6. Rip, Jet & Hasami, Selsela & Post, Wendy & Zijlstra, Elianne & Knorth, Erik J. & Kalverboer, Margrite, 2021. "Perspectives of unaccompanied refugee children, their foster carers and guardians on placement success: Which factors predict multi-informant discrepancies?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. Lindqvist, Erik, 2011. "Planned treatment and outcomes in residential youth care: Evidence from Sweden," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 21-27, January.
    8. Brown, Jason D. & Anderson, Landy & Rodgers, Julie, 2014. "Needs of foster parent resource workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 120-127.
    9. Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2011. "Cognitive, educational and self-support outcomes of long-term foster care versus adoption. A Swedish national cohort study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1902-1910, October.
    10. Hébert, Sophie T. & Esposito, Tonino & Hélie, Sonia, 2018. "How short-term placements affect placement trajectories: A propensity-weighted analysis of re-entry into care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 117-124.

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