Poster #127 - Family Wellbeing One Year After Rapid Unprepared Return: A Preliminary Analysis from Five Nations

• In Event: Poster Session 09

Abstract

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments issued mandates requiring that residential care providers rapidly return children and youth to family. Most programs affected by rapid unprepared return had little experience supporting children in families. Although there is evidence that programs can successfully transition their models from residential to family care, it is generally acknowledged that this transition is a long-term process that requires multiple elements of assessment, retraining, and support. Programs impacted by rapid unprepared return mandates had no time to go about these changes in a systematic and supported manner. As such, there was considerable concern regarding the long-term outcomes and placement stability of the children and families impacted by rapid unprepared return. The objective of the current study was to conduct a preliminary analysis of one-year follow-up outcomes in a sample of families that experienced government-mandated rapid unprepared return of children from residential care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study investigated placement stability after one year, the services received by the families during this year, and predictors of parental stress and family functioning one year following rapid unprepared return. Participants were 115 families who had experienced rapid unprepared return across five nations, including Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mexico, and Uganda. On average, residential care providers had 14.42 days (SD=9.76; range 3-89 days) to prepare all children and families for reintegration following the government mandate. The majority of children (61.3%) were reintegrated to the care of a biological parent. The remaining children were returned to the care of biological extended family (34.7%) or fictive kin (4.0%). Data revealed the majority of families (87.7%) were still intact after one year. Of the 207 children, 171 (82.6%) were still residing in the original placement at the one year follow-up. Of the 36 children who transitioned to a different placement, 13 (36.1%) moved to live with extended family, 1 (2.7%) transitioned to foster care, 19 (52.7%) were returned to residential care, and 3 (8.3%) were classified as other circumstances (i.e. forced marriage, prostitution). Of the families that remained together, family functioning and parental stress varied considerably, with many families reporting poor functioning and high parental stress. Support services received were divided into five categories: educational, medical, psychosocial , material support, and occupational/financial. Hierarchical linear regression revealed that more robust support services were associated with lower parental stress and better family functioning. Occupational/financial support, such as financial assistance and job training, and material support, such as home repairs and food assistance, were significantly associated with better family wellbeing one year following rapid unprepared return. Rapid unprepared return creates risks to families and children, and should not be continued or repeated. However, emergency situations, government mandates or unexpected crises may force conditions for rapid unprepared return. For families that have experienced rapid unprepared return, intensive support and appropriate case management can improve the likelihood of positive outcomes and improve family wellbeing.

Authors

• Nicole Wilke, CAFO
  Presenting Author

• Amanda Howard, Samford University

• Ian Forber-Pratt