title: Behaviors of youth involved in the child welfare system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using data from a nationally representative panel study, the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), we address the following questions: (a) What are the youth, family, community, and child welfare system risk factors that place youth (ages 11-14 years) living at home, who are referred for maltreatment, at increased risk of delinquent behaviors over time? and (b) What promotive factors at the youth, family, community, and child welfare system levels appear to minimize the risk of delinquent behaviors for these youth over time?
  
  
  METHODS
  The study uses the NSCAW data collected at baseline (Wave 1) and 18 months later (Wave 3). The multivariate analyses were conducted using a tobit model adjusted for longitudinal data and a complex survey sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several significant risk and promotive factors were found to influence the risk of delinquent behaviors over time. Older youth were more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors than younger youth. Girls were less likely to engage in delinquent behaviors than boys. Race or ethnicity did not have a statistically significant relationship with engaging in delinquent behaviors. Compared with neglected youth, youth who were physically abused were more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors. Increases in caregiver monitoring and in the quality of relationship with caregivers were associated with decreases in delinquent behaviors. Youth at greatest risk and those who engaged in more delinquent behaviors received more child welfare services then youth who did not engage in delinquent behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current child welfare delivery system emphasizes provision of services to youth experiencing the more serious problems and less on preventive services. The study findings suggest that preventive services when youth first enter the child welfare system that focus on enhancing caregiver skills in building positive relationships with their youth and increased monitoring of the youth's activity may alter the pathway to delinquent behaviors for these youth.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Social Work, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grogan-Kaylor
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ruffolo
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Jenell
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data