Measurement and correlates of foster care placement moves
Open accessAbstract
Placement stability is a major priority in the foster care system. However, the measurement of placement stability and the reasons children move are complex issues that warrant considerable attention. In this study, we used a two-year Texas foster care entry cohort to examine the extent to which children experience "progress moves", such as moving to a sibling placement or to live with a relative, versus non-progress moves, such as moving due to risk of abuse. Our sample consisted of 23,760 children and 66,585 placements statewide. Using two methods of classifying moves as either progress or non-progress, we found, of placements that ended with a move to a new placement, 29-43% ended with progress moves, and 57-71% ended with non-progress moves. Classification of move types was consistent across methods overall, but far less when the pre-move placement was in a shelter or restrictive setting. Additional analyses showed that the prevalence and risk factors for adverse moves varied across placement setting. Implications for the measurement and improvement of placement stability are discussed.
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Few studies specifically modeled placement disruptions or non-progress moves rather than any placement change.
“Lastly, few studies specifically modeled placement disruptions, or non-progress moves (versus any placement change; for exceptions, see: Font et al., 2018; Leathers, 2006; Sattler et al., 2018).”
From Sibling Separation and Placement Instability for Children in Foster Care (2022) · cites this paper as Font et al., 2018
Some studies have data only on children in foster care and therefore cannot measure separation from siblings who remain at home.
“Others only have data on children in foster care, and thus cannot measure separation from siblings who remain at home (Font et al., 2018; Sattler et al., 2018).”
From Sibling Separation and Placement Instability for Children in Foster Care (2022) · cites this paper as Font et al., 2018
Compared with studies elsewhere, these data have few cases with ambiguous reason codes such as 'Other'.
“In addition, unlike studies conducted elsewhere (Font et al., 2018), our data have few cases coded with ambiguous reasons (e.g., “Other”).”
From Sibling Separation and Placement Instability for Children in Foster Care (2022) · cites this paper as Font et al., 2018
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References 53 · Cited by 27
Research works printed but not linked: 36
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- Authors
- Font, S. A., Sattler, K. M. P., & Gershoff, E. T.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Font, Sarah A.
- Venue
- Children and Youth Services Review
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-08
- Volume
- 91
- Pages
- 248-258
- ISSN
- 0190-7409 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6338419
- OpenAlex
- W2809176604
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 5.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Children and Youth Services Review (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R24HD042849, P2CHD042849, P2CHD041025, T32HD007081)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Social Work Education and Practice
- Social Sciences › Law › Legal and Social Justice Studies
- Keywords
- foster care, placement stability, sibling placement, relative placement, abuse risk, risk factors
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