%0 Journal Article %J J Evid Based Soc Work %D 2013 %T Achieving placement stability. %A Carnochan, Sarah %A Moore, Megan %A Austin, Michael J %K Adoption %K Child %K Child Welfare %K Decision Making %K Emotions %K Family %K Foster Home Care %K Government Agencies %K Humans %K Parent-Child Relations %K Parents %K Problem Solving %K Social Work %X

Placement stability as an outcome goal in child welfare performance measurement is grounded in the importance of providing stability for children as they are developing attachments and relationships to caregivers. Research shows that many children are vulnerable to placement instability, especially those who have been in long term foster care. This literature review provides an overview of the federal placement stability measure. It then summarizes the diverse set of factors has been found to be associated with placement instability, including characteristics of the child and family of origin, placement type and quality, and the child welfare system and services. Promising practices aimed at promoting placement stability are summarized, followed by questions designed to foster discussion about the relationship of the evidence to child welfare practice.

%B J Evid Based Soc Work %V 10 %P 235-53 %8 2013 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1080/15433714.2013.788953 %0 Journal Article %J J Evid Based Soc Work %D 2013 %T Achieving timely adoption. %A Carnochan, Sarah %A Moore, Megan %A Austin, Michael J %K Adoption %K Age Factors %K Child %K Child Welfare %K Foster Home Care %K Government Agencies %K Humans %K Parents %K Sex Factors %K Social Work %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Time Factors %X

While family reunification is the primary permanency objective for children who must be placed temporarily outside of their homes, reunification is not possible for all children. For those children who do not return to their parents and cannot find permanent homes with other family members, adoption is the favored outcome. This review examines the composite measure in the federal Child and Family Services Review that measures agency performance related to the timeliness of adoptions of foster children. It summarizes the multiple factors that research has found to be associated with increased risk for adoption delay and disruption. These include child characteristics, family of origin and adoptive family characteristics, and features of child welfare services and systems. Practices that have been broadly linked to adoption timeliness or address risk factors associated with delays in adoption are described, including social worker activities and agency or system-wide practice.

%B J Evid Based Soc Work %V 10 %P 210-9 %8 2013 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1080/15433714.2013.788950