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

2. 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

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

4. 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%

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

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

7. Factors in Reentry Child Characteristics Age Race Emotional / behavioral characteristics

8. Factors in Reentry Parent Characteristics Problems Mother-focused Visitation

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

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

16. Findings Number of Placements

17. Findings Length of Time in Care

18. Findings Length of Time in Care

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

20. Findings Type of Agency

21. Findings Type of Agency

22. Findings Agency Location

23. Findings Agency Location

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

25. Findings Parent Visitation

26. Findings Parent Visitation

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

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

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

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. Findings Aftercare Services for Child Counseling Medical services Educational services *Other

37. 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.

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

39. 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.

40. Findings Support System *Caseworker Contact Birth Parent Support

41. Findings Birth Parent Support System

42. Findings Caseworker Contact

43. Findings Caseworker Contact

44. Findings *Age –At entry –At return home *Race Gender *Behavioral problems Child Characteristics

45. Findings Child’s Age at Entry

46. Findings Child’s Age at Entry

47. Findings Child’s Age at Return Home

48. Findings Child’s Age at Return Home

49. Findings Child’s Race

50. Findings Child’s Race

51. Findings Child’s Gender

52. Findings Child’s Gender

53. Findings Child’s Behavior

54. Findings Child’s Behavior

55. Findings Race Education –Degree –Level Experience Caseworker Factors

56. Findings Caseworker’s Race

57. Findings Caseworker’s Degree BSW MSW

58. Findings Caseworker’s Education

59. Findings Caseworker’s Experience

60. Conclusion Agency type Agency location Child’s age at entry Child’s race Child services during placement: therapy, drug treatment, school

61. Conclusion Parent services during placement: therapy, drug treatment, parenting Length of time in care Child’s age at return home Child’s level of behavior problems Caseworker contact after return home