Worker time and the cost of stability

Abstract

This paper investigates the time caseworkers spend supporting long-term foster care and adoption placements. Undertaken in Australia through collaboration between university and non-government agency researchers, the 'Cost of Support Study' tracked the hours that caseworkers spent supporting twenty-seven children and their carers over a nine month period.33The research also tracked the time taken by carers for tasks related specifically to the placement - i.e. above and beyond 'ordinary parenting'. See full report of the research at http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/ebs/pubs/reports/cost-of-support-final-report.pdf; and Research Report Summary (O'Neill, Tregeagle, Forbes, Cox, & Humpheys, 2010..