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Before and after out-of-home placement: Child health, education and crime

Author

Listed:
  • Petra Gram Cavalca

    (Danish Ministry of Finance)

  • Mette Ejrnæs

    (University of Copenhagen and CEBI, Department of Economics)

  • Mette Gørtz

    (University of Copenhagen and CEBI, Department of Economics)

Abstract

We investigate the short-term impact of out-of-home care on child health, schooling and juvenile crime. Using an event study to examine the dynamics around the time of placement, we document a clear deterioration of mental health and increasing crime rates before placement. After placement, we find a decrease in hospitalizations and an improvement in schooling outcomes. For a sub-sample, we use caseworkers’ risk-assessment to form a control group of children who were at risk of a placement. For the marginal child, we find little evidence of a causal effect of placement, as we also see improvements for the control group.

Suggested Citation

  • Petra Gram Cavalca & Mette Ejrnæs & Mette Gørtz, 2022. "Before and after out-of-home placement: Child health, education and crime," CEBI working paper series 22-22, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
  • Handle: RePEc:kud:kucebi:2222
    as

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    File URL: https://www.econ.ku.dk/cebi/publikationer/working-papers/CEBI_WP_22-22.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph J. Doyle Jr., 2007. "Child Protection and Child Outcomes: Measuring the Effects of Foster Care," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 97(5), pages 1583-1610, December.
    2. Rouland, B. & Vaithianathan, R., 2018. "Cumulative prevalence of maltreatment among New Zealand children, 1998–2015," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(4), pages 511-513.
    3. Lindquist, Matthew J. & Santavirta, Torsten, 2014. "Does placing children in foster care increase their adult criminality?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 72-83.
    4. Joseph J. Doyle Jr., 2008. "Child Protection and Adult Crime: Using Investigator Assignment to Estimate Causal Effects of Foster Care," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(4), pages 746-770, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child protection; health; schooling; crime; event study;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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