Foster Children

Words: 1290
Pages: 6

Introduction
Article Reviewed
Leathers, S. J., Spielfogel, J. E., Gleeson, J. P., & Rolock, N. (2012). Behavior problems, foster home integration, and evidence-based behavioral interventions: What predicts adoption of foster children?. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(5), 891-899.

The authors of the study are faculty members, and doctoral candidates in the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Chicago. The researchers’ professional expertise include child welfare, permanency planning of foster children, and foster youth stability. The corresponding author, Professor Sonya J. Leathers, has extensive experience in the field of child welfare, and has published numerous studies on the importance of stability and permanency
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However, the longer a child remains in foster care, the likelihood of reunification decreases (Zinn, 2009). On the contrary, if family reunification occurs too soon, the reunification may be unsuccessful resulting in repeated foster care placement for the children (Madden, et al., 2012). Since more than half of children in foster care are placed in households with no familial ties, adoption may be the best option for stability of these children (Zinn, 2009).
Family integration is often difficult, especially for children that have experience multiple placements (Leve, et al., 2012). Often times, foster children have experienced abuse, and neglect resulting in behavior problems (Leve, et al., 2012). Multiple foster care placements intensify behavior problems, and decrease the likelihood of adoption (Leve, et al, 2012). Older children are more likely to have experienced multiple placements, more likely to develop behavior problems, and less likely to be adopted (Leve, et al., 2012).
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to determine if foster parent training methods improve family integration, and increase the likelihood of adoption among older foster youth struggling with behavior problems.
Hypotheses
Hypothesis
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To determine child behaviors, researchers utilized the Child Behavior Checklist. T-scores were calculated for both externalizing and internalizing behaviors.
Dependent Variable
Adoption Likelihood. Foster parents and caseworkers were asked to rank the likelihood of adoption, ranging from very unlikely to very likely.
Research Design
Foster parents were recruited based off two criteria: (1) foster children were between the ages of four and twelve (2) foster parents received an increased rate due to the children’s behavioral needs. Fifteen families were randomly assigned to a control group, receiving no intervention, and ten were assigned to the experimental group, receiving behavioral intervention. Families in the experimental group attended sixteen training sessions over a twelve month period. Training topics included cooperation, encouragement, incentive charts, and effective discipline strategies.
Measures
Foster parents were interviewed at the beginning of the study, at three months, at six months, at nine months, and at the end of the study.
Data Analysis
The researchers used a regression analysis to examine the hypotheses. The variables are of ordinal scale so all fit the criteria for regression analysis. Regression analysis is the only type of analysis that can conduct predictor