 1) To examine the prevalence of animal abuse among youth placed in foster care because of maltreatment.  2) To determine which types of maltreatment are associated with animal abuse perpetration.  3) To identify the mental health and behavioral correlates of animal abuse perpetration among this population. Sample & Data Participants: 514 maltreated youth (ages 9-11) who were court ordered into out-of-home care (M=10.4, SD =.91).  53% male, 47% female  46.9% Hispanic, 48.6% Caucasian, and 28.0% African-American (non-exclusive categories)  Enrolled in the Fostering Healthy Futures Program  A preventative intervention for maltreated youth placed in foster care.  The current study analyzed baseline data collected from 9 cohorts prior to study entry. Background  The relationship between youth-perpetrated animal abuse and child and adolescent mental health functioning, delinquency, and antisocial behavior has become an increasingly examined area of research (Lucia & Killias, 2011; McVie, 2007).  However, few studies have examined animal abuse perpetration in samples of youth who have been involved in the child welfare system, especially foster care (Burns, Landsverk, Kelleher, Faw, Hazen, & Keeler, 2001; Yamazaki, 2010).  Research in this area has suggested increased rates of animal abuse perpetration among abused children relative to their non- abused counterparts.  No studies that we are aware of have examined whether animal abuse is differentially associated with different types of maltreatment exposure. Shelby E. McDonald, M.S.W., Edward Garrido, Ph.D., Heather N. Taussig, Ph.D., & Frank R. Ascione, Ph.D. Presented at the 17th Annual SSWR Conference, Friday, January 18, 2013 Perpetration of Animal Abuse by Maltreated Youth in Out-of-Home Care: Mental Health and Behavioral Correlates Measures Animal Abuse:  Caregiver reports of animal abuse were derived from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 2001).  Youth reports of animal abuse stemmed from the question, “Have you ever hurt or tortured animals?” (Y/N) Maltreatment Type:  Derived from Child Protection Services’ intake reports and Dependency and Neglect petitions  Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, failure to provide, moral/legal abuse, educational neglect, and lack of supervision.  Moral/legal abuse was defined as caregivers’ participation in illegal activities with the child’s knowledge or allowing the child to be present when illegal activities were occurring. Mental Health and Behavioral Correlates:  Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSC-C; Briere, 1996)  CBCL t-scores (Externalizing, Internalizing, and Total Behavior Problems) Sample Descriptives  10% of youth (N=52) had engaged in hurting or torturing of animals.  The proportion of males to females was slightly higher (60% vs. 52%) in the animal abuser category, but the difference was not statistically significant, χ 2 (1)=1.04, p=.191)  Greater proportion of Caucasian youth (N=240) in the abuser category than non-abuser category (62% vs. 48%), χ 2 (1)=3.27, p=.048).  Fewer African-American youth (N=145) in the abuser category than non-abuser category (18% vs. 31%), χ 2 (1)=4.08, p=.028).  No difference among Hispanic participants (46% vs. 51%), χ 2 (1)=.371, p=.324)  No correlation between age and animal abuse occurrence r(512)= -.001, p=.99  Animal abuse occurrence was not significantly correlated with community violence exposure, r(507)=.024, p=.589.  Youth in the abuser category were more likely to be placed in foster care (vs. kinship care, residential treatment) than non-abusers (64% vs. 49%), χ 2 (1)=3.95, p=.032.  45% vs. 27%; χ 2 (1)=5.983, p=.014  50% vs. 29%; χ 2 (1)=8.036, p=.005  Participants who engaged in animal abuse were characterized by higher internalizing (t(55.30)= 3.385, p=.001), externalizing (t(435)= 4.44, p= <.001), and total behavior problems (t(59.67)= 5.53, p= <.001) as measured by standardized scores on the CBCL.  Participants who engaged in animal abuse were also characterized by higher total mean scores on the Trauma Symptom Checklist (t(512)= 2.7, p=.007).  Our findings lend support to previous research linking childhood animal abuse to child mental health, delinquency, and antisocial behavior.  The results demonstrate the continued importance of assessing animal abuse for diagnostic and therapeutic progress in the context of mental health and behavior problems.  Early identification of animal abuse perpetration through assessment may promote best practice strategies in clinical intervention work with maltreated youth, enhancing practitioners’ ability to serve maltreated children and their families and promote successful foster placements. *