Peter J. Pecora, Ronald C. Kessler, Jason Williams, A. Chris Downs, Diana J. English, James White, Kirk O'Brien

What Works in Foster Care? (eBook, PDF)

Key Components of Success From the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

On any given day, nearly half a million children are served by foster care services in the U.S. at an annual cost of over $25 billion. Growing demand and shrinking funds have so greatly stressed the child welfare system that calls for orphanages have re-entered the public debate for the first time in nearly half a century. New ideas are desperately needed to transform a system in crisis, guarantee better outcomes for children in foster care, and reduce the need for out-of-home care in the first place. Yet little is known about what works in foster care. Very few studies have examined how alumni have fared as adults or tracked long-term health effects, and even fewer have directly compared different foster care services. In one of the most comprehensive studies of adults formerly in foster care ever conducted, the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study found that quality foster care services for children pay big dividends when they grow into adults. Key investments in highly trained staff, low caseloads, and robust supplementary services can dramatically reduce the rates of mental disorders and substance abuse later in life and increase the likelihood of completing education beyond high school and remaining employed. The results of this unparalleled study document not only the more favorable outcomes for youth who receive better services but the overall return when an investment is made in high quality foster care: every dollar invested in a child generates $1.50 in benefits to society. These findings form the core of this book's blueprint for reform. By keeping more children with their families and investing additional funds in enhanced foster care services, child welfare agencies have the opportunity to greatly improve the health, well being, and economic prospects for foster care alumni. What Works in Foster Care? presents a model foster care program that promises to revolutionize the way policymakers, administrators, case workers, and researchers think about protecting our most vulnerable youth.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Oxford University Press
• Erscheinungstermin: 2. September 2009
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780199721122
• Artikelnr.: 54553272

Autorenporträt

Peter J. Pecora is Professor of Social Work, University of Washington, and Senior Director of Research Services at Casey Family Programs. Ronald C. Kessler is Professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard University Medical School. Jason Williams is Research Analyst and Statistician, University of Alaska. A. Chris Downs is President, The Downs Group Diana J. English is Senior Director, Strategic Consulting, Casey Family Programs. James White is Research Associate, Child Welfare Partnership, Portland State University. Kirk O'Brien is Senior Research Analyst, Casey Family Programs.

Inhaltsangabe

Part I: Introduction
1: Study Background, Rationale, and Participating Agencies
2: Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks
Part II: Study Methods
3: Study Sample and Alumni Demographics
4: Methods
Part III: Risk Factors
5: Risk Factors
Part IV: Outcome Findings
6: Mental and Physical Health
7: Education
8: Employment and Finances
9: Relationships and Social Supports
10: Relation between Agency Membership and Outcomes
11: Relation between Foster Care Experience and Outcomes
12: Effects of Optimizing the Foster Care Experience on Outcomes
13: Summary and Recommendations
Part V: Appendices and References
Appendix A. Staff Members and Advisors
Appendix B. How Child Maltreatment was Measured and Aggregated
Appendix C: Placement History and Foster Care Experience Descriptive Statistics
References