Running Away from Out‐of‐Home Care: A Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

Previous research suggests that the likelihood of runaway episodes among children in out-of-home care varies across different communities/regions. However, the potential regional variation has rarely been reflected in attempts to understand runaway episodes in out-of-home care systems. The current study examines the effects of child characteristics, family characteristics and child welfare system-related characteristics on the likelihood of runaway episodes among children in out-of-home care, while accounting for county-level variations in the risk of runaway behaviours. The authors employed multilevel analyses using data on children aged 12-17 from the 2009 AFCARS database. Results demonstrate that the likelihood of runaway episodes varied across counties. Accounting for county variation, children's ages, gender, diagnosed clinical conditions, family structures, number of removals, number of placements, removal manner, and case plan goals significantly predicted runaway status. Implications are discussed.

Runaway Youth: Caring for the Nation’s Largest Segment of Missing Children

“…Data on runaway youth living in protective custody, including foster care, vary depending on the source of the data. [55][56][57] In 2017, 4734 (1.1%) of the 442 995 children in foster care in the United States ran away from their foster care placements, consistent with data reported by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2016. Data from 2010 include all runaways in foster care from birth to 18 years of age, but because young children do not have the capability to run away, the estimate of children who run away increases with age, with approximately 30% of youth 12 years or older in out-of-home care placements having run away.…”

“…Data from the 2009 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), a federally mandated data collection system that includes caselevel information on (1) all children in foster care for whom child welfare agencies have responsibility for placement, care, and supervision and (2) children adopted through child welfare agencies, found that autism spectrum disorder was associated with a decreased incidence of running away. 55 Child welfare system-related characteristics, including the type of placement, permanency plan while in care, reason for placement, number of placements, and the quality of care received in placements were also found to be factors associated with runaway behaviors. 58 The instability of foster care placements is a predictor of youth running away behavior, and multiple placements are related with an increased risk of running away.…”

“…One study from 2015 reported that youth in foster care who run away have often experienced emotional or psychological problems that began before entering foster care. 55 Experiences such as parental incarceration and personal history of substance use were associated with a higher number of runaway episodes. 55 While in out-of-home care, children with developmental and cognitive disabilities were less likely to run away, whereas children with mental and behavioral health problems were more likely to run away.…”

“…55 Experiences such as parental incarceration and personal history of substance use were associated with a higher number of runaway episodes. 55 While in out-of-home care, children with developmental and cognitive disabilities were less likely to run away, whereas children with mental and behavioral health problems were more likely to run away. 57 Courtney and Zinn 57 found that some mental and/or behavioral disorders, such as schizophrenia and other psychoses, were associated with lower risk of running away, but alcohol-and other substance-related disorders were associated with increased risk.…”

Bridging Families and Schools to Prevent Youth from Running Away From Home

“…Youth ages 12 years and older are at an increased risk of running away from home (Benoit-Bryan, 2015). There is a strong relationship between family structure (Kim, Chenot, & Lee, 2015;Sanchez et al, 2006) and behavioral problems (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004) predicting youths' likelihood of running away from home. Holliday, Edelen, and Tucker (2017) point out that it is important to consider that runaways are a heterogeneous group, and youth tend to vary in terms of their individual characteristics and motivations for leaving home.…”