Children removed for inadequate housing are less likely to be reunified than peers: analysis from AFCARS data

Rong Bai; Jeffrey M. Albert; Catherine LaBrenz; Frank Edwards; Cyleste Collins; Liuhong Yang; Rob Fischer

doi:10.1080/15548732.2023.2200371

Children removed for inadequate housing are less likely to be reunified than peers: analysis from AFCARS data

Rong Bai, Jeffrey M. Albert, Catherine LaBrenz, Frank Edwards, Cyleste Collins, Liuhong Yang, Rob Fischer

School of Criminal Justice

Rutgers, The State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of citing inadequate housing as a removal reason at the state level by utilizing data from the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System (AFCARS) and investigated the relationship between inadequate housing and reunification outcomes. The results revealed heterogeneity in citing inadequate housing as a reason for removal at the state level. Moreover, when children are from families struggling with both inadequate housing and substance abuse, the likelihood of reunification is significantly lower. Therefore, it is critical to submit consistent and standardized data to AFCARS and provide wrap-around resources for these vulnerable families.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	358-376
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of Public Child Welfare
Volume	18
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2023.2200371
State	Published - 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Sociology and Political Science

Keywords

AFCARS
Inadequate housing
Removal reasons
Reunification outcomes
Substance abuse

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10.1080/15548732.2023.2200371

Cite this

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title = "Children removed for inadequate housing are less likely to be reunified than peers: analysis from AFCARS data",

abstract = "This study examined the prevalence of citing inadequate housing as a removal reason at the state level by utilizing data from the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System (AFCARS) and investigated the relationship between inadequate housing and reunification outcomes. The results revealed heterogeneity in citing inadequate housing as a reason for removal at the state level. Moreover, when children are from families struggling with both inadequate housing and substance abuse, the likelihood of reunification is significantly lower. Therefore, it is critical to submit consistent and standardized data to AFCARS and provide wrap-around resources for these vulnerable families.",

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T1 - Children removed for inadequate housing are less likely to be reunified than peers

T2 - analysis from AFCARS data

AU - Bai, Rong

AU - Albert, Jeffrey M.

AU - LaBrenz, Catherine

AU - Edwards, Frank

AU - Collins, Cyleste

AU - Yang, Liuhong

AU - Fischer, Rob

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - This study examined the prevalence of citing inadequate housing as a removal reason at the state level by utilizing data from the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System (AFCARS) and investigated the relationship between inadequate housing and reunification outcomes. The results revealed heterogeneity in citing inadequate housing as a reason for removal at the state level. Moreover, when children are from families struggling with both inadequate housing and substance abuse, the likelihood of reunification is significantly lower. Therefore, it is critical to submit consistent and standardized data to AFCARS and provide wrap-around resources for these vulnerable families.

AB - This study examined the prevalence of citing inadequate housing as a removal reason at the state level by utilizing data from the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System (AFCARS) and investigated the relationship between inadequate housing and reunification outcomes. The results revealed heterogeneity in citing inadequate housing as a reason for removal at the state level. Moreover, when children are from families struggling with both inadequate housing and substance abuse, the likelihood of reunification is significantly lower. Therefore, it is critical to submit consistent and standardized data to AFCARS and provide wrap-around resources for these vulnerable families.

KW - AFCARS

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KW - Removal reasons

KW - Reunification outcomes

KW - Substance abuse

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Children removed for inadequate housing are less likely to be reunified than peers: analysis from AFCARS data

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

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