Poster #33 - Predictors of Reunification in a Community Sample of Children and Families Separated in Foster Care

• In Event: Poster Session 04

Abstract

Children in foster care experience high levels of adversity, including maltreatment and separation from their caregivers, and represent a high-risk population. Reunification with birth parents is often the preferred case plan for children in foster care. One factor that is supportive of reunification, is visitation between children and their birth parent(s). This study used archival data to examine the relationship between visitation, reunification, and child and case level characteristics within a local community organization providing visitation time for families in a homelike setting. This study also compared child and case characteristics with the county, state, and national data on children in foster care. The data included 100 families, consisting of 182 children and 128 parents. Children ranged from 0 to 14 years old (M = 4.47) and parents ranged from 18-54 (M = 31.91). Chi-squared and t-tests revealed that this community sample was comprised of younger children compared to county, state, and national foster care population data. Additionally, when comparing children from a particular suburban county, this sample was found to have a higher percentage of males. Binary logistic regressions for the case plan at the end of services revealed Hispanic/Latinx children were less likely to have reunification as their case plan (Wald = 5.591, p < .05, OR = .185), children with 2 parents visiting were 5 times more likely to have reunification as their case plan (Wald = 4.051, p < .05, OR = 5.336), the number of weeks receiving services was associated with a slight decrease in the likelihood of having reunification as their case plan (Wald = 9.025, p < .05, OR = .947), and there was a small decrease in the likelihood of reunification with each additional week between being removed and starting services (Wald = 4.127, p < .05, OR = .985). Binary logistic regressions for reunification being the reason for ending services revealed Hispanic/Latinx children were less likely to end services due to reunification (Wald = 5.203, p < .05, OR = .236), for every additional child within a family visiting there was an increased likelihood of exiting services due to reunification (Wald = 3.979, p < .05, OR = 1.408), each additional hour of visitation per week was associated with a 1.25 increased likelihood of reunification (Wald = 6.297, p < .05, OR = 1.251), and children from a second suburban county were over 3 times more likely to end services due to reunification than children from the large urban county (Wald = 8.147, p < .05, OR = 3.812). Visitation services are important for helping promote family cohesiveness, relational permanency, and reunification. This study supports the need for further research breaking down additional characteristics, such as cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and cultural factors that may be supportive for families and children separated in foster care. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of the need for consistent measurement and reporting of child, parent, and case level characteristics.

Authors

• Aarika Olsen, Pacific University
  Presenting Author

• Kylie Gallo

• Aly Pachter

• Theresa L Lafavor, Pacific University