MORTALITY IN A CHILD-WELFARE POPULATION - IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY

The mortality rate in a one-year cohort of children with child welfare status in Alberta, Canada, was found to be significantly elevated. Sp ecifically, neglected and abused children were apt to have died violen tly, while handicapped children were more likely to have died because of disease of infirmity. The proportion of children dying while in car e did not differ from the proportion who died after leaving care. Deat h rates were elevated only for age-categories surrounding the point (1 8 years) at which child welfare support was withdrawn.