IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS ON YOUNG CHILDRENS EXITS FROM FOSTER-CARE

Children entering foster care are often described as having multiple p roblems, although there are surprisingly few comprehensive baseline de scriptions of children as they enter care. Further, few studies have e xamined the interactions among baseline characteristics, physical and mental health problems, and their joint influence on the likelihood th at a child will remain in care. The purpose of this study was to inves tigate the relationship of physical and developmental problems identif ied shortly after the children entered substitute care to the likeliho od of their remaining in care. Data for these analyses came from 272 c hildren (ages 1 month to 7 years) seen at the Foster Care Clinic in Wa terbury, Connecticut, between November 1985 and December 1989. All chi ldren received a complete physical health assessment and developmental screening upon entry into care. The outcome variable, children's plac ement status as of September 1990, was confirmed through the Social Se rvices Agency's records. Results indicate that children in foster care commonly showed developmental delays (53%). Further, those who were o lder at entry into care and nonwhite and who had developmental problem s identified were 1.93 times more likely to remain in foster care. Giv en these findings, early comprehensive assessment for children enterin g foster care is strongly recommended.