Permanency for Children in Foster Care: Issues and Barriers for Adoption

Diane L. Scott, Chang Bae Lee, Susan W. Harrell, Mary B. Smith-West

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The desired outcome for children in foster care is to be reunited with their parents or to be permanently placed in a stable home. Federal and state legislation directs increased efforts by the social welfare and judicial systems in the United States to act in the best interests of the child and to identify and reduce barriers to permanency. Records from two county dependency courts in Florida were examined and caregivers surveyed to identify issues that prevented them from adopting the child in their care, and to identify services that would have enhanced the likelihood of adoption. The findings and their implications suggest that more integration of the two systems and support for concrete assistance to caregivers are paramount to facilitating adoption of children in foster care.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)290-307
Number of pages18
JournalChild and Youth Services
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2013

Keywords

  • adoptions
  • child welfare
  • foster care
  • kinship care
  • permanency

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