CHILDREN ON THE MOVE - PLACEMENT PATTERNS IN CHILDRENS PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The author reviewed placement patterns in 447 systematically selected case records of abused and neglected children residing with either par ents or relatives and under the supervision of children's protective s ervices (CPS). Children of color had more kinship and shelter placemen ts. Despite high levels of care and protection provided by relatives, supervision of children continued because CPS workers were concerned t hat noncustodial parents might reabuse the children. Workers expressed apprehensions that if they failed to predict and prevent reabuse, the y would be blamed by the agency as well as by the media and public dem anding to know why the system failed.