Adolescent Parents in the First Wave of the National Youth in Transition Database

Abstract

Adolescent parenthood occurs with relative frequency among youth in the foster care system. Few studies describe the characteristics of adolescent parents in foster care, or compare male and female parents, particularly using large, national samples. The present study used data from the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD; N = 15,601) to document the number of foster youth who had children at age 17 years, the factors associated with adolescent parenthood, and the differences between male and female parents on general functioning indicators and use of Chafee services. Results revealed that 4% of males and 10% of females in the NYTD sample had children. Multivariate analyses indicated that for males and females alike, non-White race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with increased likelihood of childbirth. Among males, the multivariate odds of being a parent increased substantially if they had a history of homelessness, substance abuse referral, or incarceration. Among females, only a history of incarceration was significantly associated with parenthood. Receiving Chafee-funded services was not related to either male or female parenthood. These findings highlight the high rates of adolescent parenthood among youth in foster care, particularly if other risk factors are also present. Practice implications and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords::

• foster care
• adolescents
• parenthood
• gender

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The data used in this publication were made available by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and have been used with permission. Data from the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) were originally collected by the states and provided to the Children's Bureau.

Notes

^1. Under certain circumstances, Chafee-funded services may be provided to youth who have already aged-out of foster care, left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption, etc. (Simmel, Shpiegel, & Mushid, 2012).

^2. Compete results available from author; removed due to space limitations of the journal.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the project was provided by the Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The collector of the original data, the funder, the Archive, Cornell University and their agents or employees bear no responsibility for the analyses or interpretations presented here.

Notes on contributors

Svetlana Shpiegel

Svetlana Shpiegel, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Robert D. McCormick Center for Child Advocacy and Policy at Montclair State University. Her current research interests include child abuse and neglect, adolescents transitioning out of foster care and resilience among vulnerable populations.

Michele Cascardi

Michele Cascardi, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at William Paterson University. Her current research interests include post-traumatic stress disorder, risk for dating violence, and dating violence prevention for youth with poly-victimization and trauma history.