Why Do Children Experience Multiple Placement Changes in Foster Care? Content Analysis on Reasons for Instability

Abstract

This study used content analysis and qualitative analysis to examine reasons for moves in 53 child welfare cases with placement instability. Coding from case records of reasons for placement moves revealed three categories in most cases: 1) caregiver-related reasons, such as maltreatment by caregivers or changes in caregivers' lives; 2) child behavior-related reasons such as aggressive behaviors; and 3) system- or policy-related reasons, such as the need to use temporary placements or the aim of placing children with siblings. Children's previous instability should be considered in choosing and supporting caregivers, providing mental health resources, and considering moves to improve care.

KEYWORDS:

• foster care
• kinship care
• placement
• placement stability

Notes

We would like to acknowledge Dr. Mark F. Testa for his work in conceptualizing and organizing the Multiple Move Study. We thank the team of reviewers who worked diligently on this project: Robin Albritton, Darlene Bushue, Kay Clark, Cheryl Conners, Kathleen Duvall, Dorothy Elligan, Rick Fredrikson, Anne Gold, Linda Gulledge, Yvette Harris-Jemison, Tammy Harvey, Margueretis Hooker, Kevin Houser, Deanna Large, Christy Levine, Chandler Mackey, Steve Mathews, Mary Novak, Javan Owens, Angie Paniagua, Cynthia Richter, Geraldine Rodriguez, Cathy Shaw, Greg Smith, Terry Whipple, and Roben Winters. We also thank Joan Nelson-Phillips and Yolanda Green Rogers for help managing case file reviews, and Dan Phillips for data management. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for funding this research.

^aIn 3 cases (6%), no one category was most frequent.