Breakdown of teenage placements in Swedish foster and residential care

Abstract

A B S T R AC TThis article deals with the problem of breakdown in different types of out-of-home care (foster care/residential care) for Swedish teenagers. How often are such placements prematurely terminated against the wishes and intentions of child welfare authorities? Which factors appear to increase or decrease the risk of placement breakdown? The sample consists of a national cohort of 776 youths who started 922 placements during 1991. Every placement was followed in municipal case files for a maximum period of five years.Between 30 and 37% of all placements were prematurely terminated, the exact figure depending on whether a narrow or wide definition of breakdown was applied. The lowest rates of breakdown were found in kinship care and secure units, the highest in nonkinship foster homes. Teenagers who display antisocial behaviour and/or have mental health problems constitute a high-risk category for most types of out-of-home care, but especially in non-kinship foster homes. Risk factors in relation to breakdown were analysed in the four main forms of Swedish out-of-home care separately (foster homes, privately/publicly run residential care and secure units). The analysis pointed out that risk factors are not the same in all types of care, but antisocial behaviour at time of placement increased the risk in most forms of care.Prior research indicates that placement breakdown is a major problem of child welfare in other countries, and this study found that Sweden is no exception.Breakdown of teenage placements in Swedish foster and residential care M Sallnäs, B Vinnerljung and P Kyhle Westermark Child and Family Social Work 2004, 9, pp 141-152

Changes in Placement among Children in Foster Care: A Longitudinal Study of Child and Case Influences

“…There also is evidence that children placed in residential settings change placements less frequently than children in nonrelative family foster homes (Sallnäs et al 2004). Most studies of placement stability exclude children who are placed in shelter settings or who remain in care for limited periods.…”

“…Several studies report that relative and kinship foster care placements are more stable than other types of out-of-home placements (Fernandez 1999;Webster et al 2000;Sallnäs et al 2004). There also is evidence that children placed in residential settings change placements less frequently than children in nonrelative family foster homes (Sallnäs et al 2004).…”

Factors Affecting Foster Care Breakdown in Spain

“…This rate varies a great deal at the international level, because it is estimated that between 20 to 50% of placements ends this way (Berry & Barth 1990;Fratter, Rowe, Sapsford, & Thoburn, 1991;Millham, Bullock, Hosie, & Haak, 1986;Minty, 1999;Sallnäs, Vinnerljung, & Westermark, 2004;Stone & Stone, 1983).…”

“…have undergone the most placement changes (James, Landsverk, & Slymen, 2004;Palmer, 1996). Children who undergo a larger number of changes will also be more likely to obtain worse academic results and to suffer from other problems at school (Biehal, Clayden, Stein, & Wade, 1995;Eckenrode, Rowe, Laird, & Brathwaite, 1995;Sallnäs et al, 2004). Foster breakdown has also been linked to increased difficulties for these children after their transition to an independent life, including antisocial behavior, chronic unemployment, delinquency, psychoactive substance consumption, or difficulties in their personal relations, among other problems (Fanshel et al, 1990;Festinger, 1983;Mech, Ludy-Dobson, & Hulseman, 1994).…”

Adjusting to standards: reflections from ‘auditees’ at residential homes for children in Sweden

“…There are various types of professions operating in the field, nearly half of the employees have no formal education and the methods practiced differ considerably (IVO 2013). Swedish residential care is not evaluated to any large extent, but studies have revealed a high prevalence of disruptions (Sallnäs, Vinnerljung, and Kyhle Westermark 2004), unsatisfactory access to welfare resources (Sallnäs, Wiklund, and Lagerlöf 2012) and poor long-term effects (Sallnäs and Vinnerljung 2008). The Swedish government advocates the application of evidence-based interventions (Bergmark, Bergmark, and Lundström 2011), but the use of specific methods remains unregulated and hence, is not formally monitored by the Inspectorate.…”