Rolock, N., White, K., Blakey, J. M., Ocasio, K., Korsch-Williams, A., Flanigan, C., Bai, R., Faulkner., M., Marra, L., & Fong, R. (2023). Living apart after adoption or guardianship: Perspectives of adoptive parents and guardians. Children and Youth Services Review, 153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107107
A new study from TXICFW researchers and colleagues explores what helps prevent children or youth living apart from their families after adoption or guardianship.
For children who are not reunified with their biological family members, the child welfare system promotes legal permanence through adoption or guardianship. The intent of adoption and guardianship is a safe home where children develop familial relationships that last a lifetime. However, issues may arise that result in children or youth living apart (LA) from their families after adoption or guardianship. In this study, LA is defined as a youth living outside the home after adoption or guardianship for two weeks or longer because the youth was receiving treatment in a residential or hospital setting, in a juvenile justice setting, or became homeless or ran away from home.
Using caregiver survey data, this study examined the following questions:
- What is the prevalence of LA?
- What are the risk and protective factors at child and family levels that are associated with LA?
- What is the nature of the relationships between family members among those who have experienced LA?
Study Highlights
- 8% of youth in the sample had experienced living apart (LA) from their adoptive or guardianship families.
- Factors that decreased the likelihood of LA included: extracurricular involvement in school-related activities, biological family support, and appropriate, adoption or guardianship specific supports and services.
- Familial relationships endured within families that experienced LA.
Rolock, N., White, K., Blakey, J. M., Ocasio, K., Korsch-Williams, A., Flanigan, C., Bai, R., Faulkner., M., Marra, L., & Fong, R. (2023). Living apart after adoption or guardianship: Perspectives of adoptive parents and guardians. Children and Youth Services Review, 153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107107