Breakdown in foster care

Abstract

This follow-up study reports on the stay of children in long term foster care and the factors that influence it. Since a number of children were still in foster care when the study was conducted, the model of survival analysis was employed in order to assess the risk of premature termination of a placement. Risk factors that proved to be associated with a prematurely terminated placement were age and externalizing problem behavior. The type of foster family was found to be no significant factor. These risk factors can be established as soon as the child is referred to foster care, so that additional care can be provided to ensure the permanency of a foster care placement.