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ChildrenandFamily Research Center Return to Care: What are the Factors Involved in Children Reentering Foster Care? Gail Tittle School of Social Work November, 2003 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign TM

Background • Permanency for children continues to be a priority but is difficult to achieve. • There are varying results from studies on foster care recidivism. • We need to know more about why children reenter foster care.

Background • Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 • Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

Rates of Reentry Previous Studies • Festinger (1994) 1 yr. 12.7% • Block & Libowitz (1983) 2 yr. 16% • Fanshel & Shinn (1978) 5 yr. 16% • U.S. DHHS (1998) 1 yr. 17% • Fein et al. (1983) 2 yr. 22% • Wulczyn (1991) 5 yr. 22% • Sherman et al. (1973) 1 yr. 27% • Wulczyn et al. (2000) 8 yrs. 29% • Frame et al. (2000) 4-6 yrs. 32% • Terling (2000) 3½ yrs. 37%

Factors in Reentry Types of Maltreatment • Neglect • Physical abuse • Child reason only (anti-social behavior)

Factors in Reentry Foster Care Experience • Previous child welfare experience • Placement history • Timing of reentry/reabuse • Services

Factors in Reentry Child Characteristics • Age • Race • Emotional / behavioral characteristics

Factors in Reentry Parent Characteristics • Problems • Mother-focused • Visitation

Factors in Reentry Family Characteristics • Single vs. two-parent families • Siblings • Socioeconomic status • Social support

Methodology Data Collection • Phase 1: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Integrated Administrative Database • Phase 2: Caseworker Surveys • Future - Phase 3: Foster Parent Surveys

Methodology Total Sample • Cohort of foster children from FY 2000 • 724 children who returned home • 349 remained at home • 375 returned to foster care • Stratified by placement type

Methodology Subsample: Caseworker Survey • Cohort of foster children from FY 2000 • 295 children who returned home • 121 remained at home • 174 returned to foster care • Stratified by placement type

Methodology Dependent Variable • Whether the child reentered foster care or remained home within 12 months of return home from foster care

Methodology Independent Variables • Placement history • Agency factors • Service factors • Birth parent support • Child factors • Caseworker factors

Findings Placement History (prior to return home) • Number of foster care placements • *Length of time in care

Findings Number of Placements

Findings Length of Time in Care

Findings Agency Factors • *Type of agency – public or private • *Location of agency - region

Findings Type of Agency

Findings Agency Location

Findings Service Factors • Parent visitation • Services child received in care • Services parent received while child in care • Aftercare services received by child • Aftercare services received by parent

Findings Parent Visitation

Findings Child Services in Care • *Counseling/therapy • *Drug or alcohol treatment • Psychological testing • *School attendance or tutoring • Other services

Findings Counseling/therapy • 126 cases • Of those who achieved therapy goal(111), 39% did not reenter and 61% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (45), 96% achieved therapy goal. • Of those who did reenter (81), 84% achieved therapy goal.

Findings Drug/alcohol treatment • 156 cases • Of those who received treatment (16), only 6% (1) did no reenter, while 94% (15) did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (57), 2% received treatment. • Of those who did reenter (99), 15% received treatment.

Findings School attendance/tutoring • 121 cases • Of those who achieved school goal (111), 38% did not reenter and 62% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (42), 100% (42) achieved school goal. • Of those who reentered (79), 87% achieved school goal.

Findings Parent Services During Care • *Parenting classes • *Drug or alcohol treatment • Psychological testing • Urine screening or random drops • *Individual or family counseling • *Other services

Findings Parenting Classes • 175 cases • Of those who achieved goal (156), 49% did not reenter and 51% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (79), 96% achieved goal. • Of those who did reenter (96), 83% achieved goal.

Findings Drug or Alcohol Treatment • 122 cases • Of those who achieved goal (99), 47.5% did not reenter and 52.5% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (52), 90% achieved goal. • Of those who did reenter (70), 74% achieved goal.

Findings Counseling • 210 cases • Of those who achieved goal (178), 46% did not reenter and 54% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (86), 95% achieved goal. • Of those who did reenter (124), 77% achieved goal.

Findings Other Services • 149 cases • Of those who achieved goal (128), 45% did not reenter and 55% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (60), 97% achieved goal. • Of those who did reenter (89), 79% achieved goal.

Findings Aftercare Services for Child • Counseling • Medical services • Educational services • *Other

Findings Other Aftercare Services for Child • 189 cases • Of those who received other services (97), 31% did not reenter and 69% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (74), 40.5% received other services. • Of those who did reenter (115), 58% received other services.

Findings Aftercare Services for Parent • Outpatient drug treatment • Individual counseling • Parenting classes • Support group • Respite services • Advocacy • *Other

Findings Other Aftercare Services for Parent • 257 cases • Of those who received other services (165), 45.5% did not reenter and 54.5% did reenter. • Of those who did not reenter (102), 73.5% received other services. • Of those who did reenter (155), 58% received other services.

Findings Birth Parent Support • Support System • *Caseworker Contact

Findings Birth Parent Support System

Findings Caseworker Contact

Findings Child Characteristics • *Age • At entry • At return home • *Race • Gender • *Behavioral problems

Findings Child’s Age at Entry

Findings Child’s Age at Return Home

Findings Child’s Race

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