Despite the prevalence of mental health problems among foster children, little is known about how pre-existing mental health conditions affect their outcomes in foster care.
A new study co-written by Jung Min Park and Joseph P. Ryan, professors in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, followed 5,978 children in foster care in Illinois for several years to determine whether these children's placement and permanency outcomes were affected by their histories of intensive mental health treatment.
Some results of the study include:
* Five percent (296) of the children had at least one episode of inpatient mental health care prior to being placed in foster care
* When children who receive inpatient psychiatric care enter the child-welfare system, they are more likely to suffer poor outcomes and be left behind in the system
* Children with inpatient psychiatric episodes were at greater risk for frequent placement disruptions and were less likely to reunite with their families of origin or be adopted
During the observation period, about 70 percent of the children in the study achieved permanence by returning to their families or through adoption or guardianship.
Full Article and Source:
Study looks at how pre-existing mental health conditions affect outcomes in foster care
See also:
Placement and Permanency Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care by Prior Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
A new study co-written by Jung Min Park and Joseph P. Ryan, professors in the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, followed 5,978 children in foster care in Illinois for several years to determine whether these children's placement and permanency outcomes were affected by their histories of intensive mental health treatment.
Some results of the study include:
* Five percent (296) of the children had at least one episode of inpatient mental health care prior to being placed in foster care
* When children who receive inpatient psychiatric care enter the child-welfare system, they are more likely to suffer poor outcomes and be left behind in the system
* Children with inpatient psychiatric episodes were at greater risk for frequent placement disruptions and were less likely to reunite with their families of origin or be adopted
During the observation period, about 70 percent of the children in the study achieved permanence by returning to their families or through adoption or guardianship.
Full Article and Source:
Study looks at how pre-existing mental health conditions affect outcomes in foster care
See also:
Placement and Permanency Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care by Prior Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
5 comments:
This study shows the adverse effects foster care has on the children.
We need to give more homes to children in need in the US rather than go to other countries to adopt.
I agree with anonymous that we should be adopting, taking care of our own first before going overseas to adopt.
Studies also tell us that 'hurt people hurt other people'. Clearly, the mental health system for children and child protective services need overhauling. State Agencies providing these services are not regulated effectively by State Monitoring Agencies due to favoritism, nepotism and political influence and too many children suffer abuse up to an including death in the hands of these Agencies. This is a National problem suggesting it is a government system's problem. Better outcomes are afforded by private industry where state monitoring agencies can and do effectively monitor, regulate and follow up appropriately for implementation of corrective actions.
I worked in mental health finance for awhile and it is NOT a working situation.
A phone call from a wealthy HP executive was routed to me. He had unruly children and wanted to drop one off at the inpatient unit. I couldn't believe it.
CHILDREN WHO ARE ADMITTED TO SUCH A FACILITY ARE NOT THE SAME CHILD AFTER A STAY. There is no easy fix.
Many of these children are the waste products of our society. They have witnessed and endured scenes beyond our imagination.
Intervention needs to happen early and if possible, in the home.
I was always amazed that the Director and the DON had no report with the children, and they had none of their own.
Staff are poorly paid and poorly screened. I substitute taught at the local youth correctional center which is a JAIL, not a shelter. I saw youngsters I could have sat on my lap. It is tragic.
All of these children need early intervention before society's waste products begin to rot.
I would bet that a lot of these abandoned children, if they survive into adulthood, end up in other state institutions ie jails and prison cells.
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