National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being Research Brief No. 2. Foster Children's Caregivers and Caregiving Environments

摘要

According to most recent estimates, over 530,000 children are in foster care in the United States. These children live in a variety of settings, including non-relative foster homes, the homes of relatives, and group homes. However, despite widespread concern for these children, little research has been available to provide a national picture of the circumstances in which these children reside. NSCAW presents a unique profile of the experiences of children in foster care in the United States. Focusing on a national sample of children in foster care for 1 year, it provides a portrait of foster caregivers and foster caregiving environments, as well as the perceptions that children themselves have about their foster caregivers and their experiences in foster care. This research brief answers the following questions: Who is caring for the children in foster care; What are the environments in which foster children are being cared for; What are children's perceptions of their foster caregivers and caregiving arrangements; and What are the plans for reunification of this population. These questions are answered using information for the population of children in foster care in this study's sample. In addition, differences across types of caregiving settings (non-kin foster homes, kinship foster homes, and group homes) are highlighted.