Returning to foster care: Age and other risk factors

Abstract

This study uses longitudinal administrative data from twenty U.S. states to examine the risk of returning to foster care after children are either reunified with their parents or placed with guardians outside the foster care system. Our sample for this analysis includes all children who, before age 18, exited their first spell to either reunification or placement with guardians between 2003 and 2010 with follow-up through December 31, 2017 (N = 607,289). Focusing on demographics of the children, placement history and elapsed time since their exit from care as risk factors, a discrete time hazard model was specified to integrate children's development as a factor predictive of reentry. Subgro..