Abstract
This study examined the records of the North Carolina Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect to determine which social, family and child characteristics were most influential in the decision to place a child in foster care. These records contained all theoretically relevant factors as well as demographic data. Analysis included the computation of odds ratios for foster care for each of 250 variables. A maximum likelihood binary logistic regression model was constructed to obtain the independent and cumulative contribution of each factor.
During a 12 month period of 1978-79, 4611 families were reported for a first episode of confirmed child maltreatment. Approximately 15% of the families had children placed in foster care. Some expected variables such as parental stress factors (substance abuse)and types of abuse (burns and scalds) placed a child at a significant risk for placement in foster care (p < 0.05). However, less obvious factors such as referral source (law enforcement agencies) or geographic area also placed children at risk. Overall, our model explained little of the variance of these decisions (R2 = 0.168) and poorly predicted placement (sensitivity 66.3%, specificity 74.6%). Using existing data we were unable to adequately describe the decision process in selecting foster care. Among a large population of maltreated children, placement in foster care approximates a random process.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gould, C., Runyan, D., Trost, D. et al. 471 DETERMINANTS OF FOSTER CARE FOR THE MALTREATED CHILD. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 519 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00484
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00484
