CD-50375s
Youth with Disabilities in the United States Child Welfare System.
Slayter, Elspeth.
Journal Article
Copyright
Published: May 2016
Children and Youth Services Review
Vol. 64
, p. 155-165
DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.03.012
Elsevier
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Existing literature suggests that youth with disabilities are known to be at increased risk of maltreatment in the form of abuse and/or neglect. Little is known, however, about the experiences of youth with disabilities who are living in foster care or who are supervised by child protection authorities. This study establishes a baseline estimate of the prevalence of youth with disabilities living in foster care, documents reasons for child protection system involvement, identifies placement types while youth are in care and explores case outcomes. This cross-sectional, exploratory study draws on data from the 2012 Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) for foster youth in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A sample of youth with disabilities (N = 36.492) and a comparison group without disabilities (N = 601.539) were identified. Findings about demographics, reasons for child removal, foster care placements, permanency planning goals and case outcomes are presented. Findings have implications for the prevention the removal of youth from caregivers, the need for family supports to prevent foster care involvement, the promotion of community inclusion of foster youth while in foster care and the need for inter-system collaboration at the transitional age stage. (Author abstract)
Keywords:
children with disabilities; child welfare services; child protection; child abuse; child neglect; foster children; demography; Removing child from home; permanency; family support systems