Perry, G., M. Daly, et al. (2012). Placement stability in kinship and non-kin foster care: A Canadian study, Children and Youth Services Review 34(2): 460-465.
This study examines the difference in stability between kinship and non-kin placements by comparing cases from one child welfare organization, Family and Child Services (FACs), in Waterloo, Ontario. Data are utilized from primary placements that began between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010, for children placed under the care of FACs. A total of 852 cases were compared of children who had been removed from their birth parents’ care due to experienced harm or risk of experiencing harm or abuse, and who had experienced at least one family primary placement. In this study “family” placement refers to foster, kin care, or kin service primary placement.
Key findings highlight that kin placements were more stable than non-kin placements, with the difference being most notable in the first month, where foster placements were four times more likely to end than kinship placements. The authors discuss two confounding variables that might influence/bias this difference in stability: (1) age of children; and (2) type of maltreatment instigating child’s placement in care. Both potential biases were examined and determined to not influence stability of the placement.
Concerns regarding stability as the measure of placement success were addressed by examining the type of placement end. Placement termination, whether through kinship or foster care, can occur for different reasons. While foster placements had a much greater likelihood to end during the study period, they were substantially less likely to lead to family reunification. Kin placements were much more likely to continue than non-kin placements, and were also more likely to end in successful discharge to parents (a “successful” discharge was when a child who had not been taken back into out-of-home care again within the study period). Kinship placements were also significantly less likely to end with the child moving to another out-of-home placement.
Critical questions are raised that examine the relationship and level of commitment toward a child in kinship versus non-kin foster care. The authors question the potential of differential commitment toward the child at the outset of placement to influence stability. Specifically, it is suggested that future consideration be given to the influence of motivation to provide care; kin families typically have an existing relationship with the child, and likely a tendency toward a longer-term commitment. Further, it would be worth considering whether enhanced ‘stability’ translates into improved life outcomes. The authors suggest that the ‘success’ of a placement is not attributed to stability alone, and suggest the possibility that aspects of a stable kin placement may not be in the child’s best interests.