Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: When children are reunited with their families of origin and the reasons for placing them in out-of-home care no longer exist, it is usually considered a good outcome.Unfortunately, some children are later returned to care.The objective of this register-based study is to describe in terms of rates the processes of reunification and re-entry, involving children placed in out-of-home care before their third birthday.Furthermore, the objective is to study whether individual and parental characteristics predict reunifications and re-entries.Method: Data were obtained by using personal identification numbers to link several registration systems.The study population was defined as all children from entry cohorts in 1991-2001 who entered the Danish out-of-home care system before their third birthday (n=3928).Graphs of cumulative incidences are used to describe the processes of reunification and re-entry.Cox regression is used to estimate the covariates associated with reunification and re-entry.Results: 39% (n=1525) of all children who enter care for the first time reunify with their families within five years of care.22% of these children re-enter care within two years.Results further point to complex patterns of risk factors.Single parenthood is associated with a lower rate of reunification when combined with unemployment or psychiatric diagnoses, but it is associated with a higher rate of reunification when parents are employed or when none of the parents have psychiatric histories.A psychiatric history is associated with re-entry only when the family structure consists of two parents.An immigration background is associated with a higher likelihood of reunification and with a lower likelihood of re-entry.
Author: Mads Bonde Ubbesen
Institutions: Aarhus University, TrygFonden
Language: English
Topic: Child Welfare and Adoption
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2513836651