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Impact of foster care on sexual activity of maltreated youth

Impact of foster care on sexual activity of maltreated youth. Monica Faulkner, PhD, LMSW Center for Social Work Research The University of Texas at Austin. Problem. 70% of female children in foster care will be pregnant by the age of 21

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Impact of foster care on sexual activity of maltreated youth

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  1. Impact of foster care on sexual activity of maltreated youth Monica Faulkner, PhD, LMSW Center for Social Work Research The University of Texas at Austin

  2. Problem • 70% of female children in foster care will be pregnant by the age of 21 • Nationally, 30% of females are pregnant by the age of 20 (Bilaver & Courtney, 2006)

  3. Prior research • Some international studies • High pregnancy rates in other countries • Barriers pregnant/parenting teens face • Non-peer reviewed reports • Large numbers of teen parents in care • Empirical studies • Primarily non-nationally representative samples • Define & confirm high pregnancy rates • Document problems pregnant/ parenting teens encounter in care

  4. Gaps in literature • How do risk and protective factors impact sexual activity and pregnancy over time for maltreated females? • In addition to foster care, how do changes in caregivers impact sexual health behaviors? • What are the factors that help determine whether a girl will remain abstinent?

  5. Research questions Overall research question: How does foster care impact sexual activity and pregnancy for maltreated youth?

  6. Data • National Study of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing (NSCAW) • CPS sample • Waves 1, 3 & 4

  7. Variables • Dependent variable • Sexual activity: abstinent, sexually active, pregnant • Primary independent variables • Foster care placement • Caregiver changes • Additional independent variables • Problems in family of origin • Child maltreatment • Race • Risk factors

  8. Sample

  9. Analyses

  10. Results: Chi square

  11. Results: T tests

  12. Results: Likelihood ratio tests

  13. Results: multinomial regression

  14. Results: multinomial regression

  15. Results Summary- Question 1

  16. Results-Question 2

  17. Conclusion • Foster care alone does not predict pregnancy or sexual activity. • Rates of pregnancy/sexual activity are high for youth who come into contact with the child welfare system.

  18. Strengths & Limitations Strengths Limitations Problems inherent to secondary data analysis Issue with weights • Nationally representative data set • Examines different levels of sexual activity

  19. Implications • National advocacy efforts should refine focus to include all youth who receive child welfare services • More research needed to examine discrepancy between high contraceptive use & high pregnancy rates

  20. Monica Faulkner Mfaulkner@mail.utexas.edu (512) 47-17191

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