End-of-life trends and patterns among children in the US foster care system: 2005–2015

Abstract

Drawing on national, longitudinal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis, and Reporting System data (2005–2015), demographic, health, foster care, and geographic characteristics of decedents (N = 3653) aged 1–17 years were examined. On average, decedents were 6 years old, the highest proportion died as infants, and experienced significant trauma in their short lives either through maltreatment or exposure to parental substance use. A noted increase in Medicaid coverage among decedents over time suggests critical access to concurrent treatment and hospice care, but this is unavailable to children with private insurance. This study has policy implications related to the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect at Cornell University for providing the data and offering technical assistance during the 2017 Summer Research Institute.