The impact of foster care privatization on multiple placements

    Authors

    J. A. Steen;L. Duran

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Child. Youth Serv. Rev.

    Keywords

    Foster care; Multiple placements; Permanence; Policy impact; Privatization; CHILD-WELFARE; MANAGED CARE; HUMAN-SERVICES; PRIVATE; DISPARITIES; PERMANENCY; OUTCOMES; WORKERS; SYSTEM; YOUTH; Family Studies; Social Work

    Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of foster care privatization policy on multiple placements in Florida's foster care system. A variant of the interrupted time series design allowed for an assessment of privatization policy within 282 data points (six years of data nested in 47 counties). Results from hierarchical linear analysis models identified a significant effect for privatization while controlling for a major alternative explanation. Specifically, the percent of children in fewer than three placements was significantly lower in the post-privatization years than in the pre-privatization years. This effect varied across counties. Line graphs revealed a variety of trends among providers, which may explain the variation of privatization's effect across counties. These results have implications for policymakers seeking to address the goal of permanence and for child welfare administrators involved in the implementation of privatization policy. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Children and Youth Services Review

    Volume

    35

    Issue/Number

    9

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1503

    Last Page

    1509

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000323855900024

    ISSN

    0190-7409

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