Child Protective Services and the Achievement Gap

Defining and strengthening child well-being in child protection

“…Hook Piescher, Colburn, LaLiberte & Hong, 2014), achieving and maintaining mental, behavioral, and physical health, (e.g., Casanueva, Stambaugh, Tueller, Dolan & Smith, 2012;Stambaugh et al, 2013;Courtney et al, 2011;Perry, 2005), and establishing and maintaining supportive relationships (e.g., Geenen & Powers, 2007;Ahrens et al, 2011;Samuels & Pryce, 2008). Furthermore, these poor outcomes are often evident for both children and youth who enter into out-of-home placement as well as children and youth who are involved in an accepted case of child maltreatment but never go on to experience out-of-home placement (e.g.…”

“…Furthermore, these poor outcomes are often evident for both children and youth who enter into out-of-home placement as well as children and youth who are involved in an accepted case of child maltreatment but never go on to experience out-of-home placement (e.g. Casanueva, Stambaugh, Tueller, Dolan & Smith, 2012;Piescher, Colburn, LaLiberte & Hong, 2014). By failing to address issues of trauma and well-being at early points of contact within child protection systems, these children may be at increased risk for placement instability, placement in more restrictive settings, and behavior problems that may follow children even as they transition into adulthood (Perry, 2005;Pecora et al, 2005;Rubin et al, 2007;Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project, 2012;Courtney et al, 2011).…”

Academic Interventions for Children in Foster Care in the Professional Literature

“…Many macro-systems must work together to provide the highest quality of care to the children who are the most vulnerable throughout our country. Pears et al [24] stated, "If effective interventions to improve school engagement in children in foster care can be developed, they could hold great potential for improving the long term trajectories of these vulnerable children" [25].…”

“…Navigating and managing these services can be extremely challenging. The research suggests that there is an increase in academic success when an individual plan is in place and the plan is being shared with all those involved in the care of the youth [25].…”

“…There are various issues that must be addressed to reduce the time children wait in residential placements. Studies may not correlate the problems with the stays in residential care or why the child came into care [25]. Prolonged stays in residential care may create serious developmental problems.…”