The impact of parental alcohol or drug removals on foster care placement experiences: a matched comparison group study.
Research has established the coincidence of parental alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and child maltreatment, but few studies have examined the placement experiences and outcomes of children removed because of parental AOD use. The present study examines demographic characteristics and placement experiences of children removed from their homes because of parental AOD use (n = 1,333), first in comparison to the remaining sample of children in foster care (n = 4,554), then in comparison to a matched comparison group of children in foster care who were removed for other reasons (n = 1,333). Relative to the comparison sample, children removed for parental AOD use are less likely to experience co-occurring removal because of neglect and physical or sexual abuse and are more likely to be placed in relative foster care. In addition, these children remain in care longer, experience similar rates of reunification, and have significantly higher rates of adoption.
Vanderploeg
Jeffrey J
JJ
Yale University School of Medicine, USA.
Connell
Christian M
CM
Caron
Colleen
C
Saunders
Leon
L
Katz
Karol H
KH
Tebes
Jacob Kraemer
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000523:psychology*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012107:Research Design; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders