METODOLOGÍA Y TÉCNICAS DE RECOGIDA DE DATOS 75

perspectives

Professional agency and substitute caregivers' perspectives on the placement experiences o f maltreated children removed from their biological parents

Relatively few research investigations have examined the effect of child protection court proceedings upon maltreated children’s psychological well being (Davidson, 1989; Jellinek, Murphy, Poistrast, Quinn, Bishop, & Goshko, 1992; Jellinek, Little, Benedict, Murphy, & Pagano, 1995; Kelly & Ramsey, 1985; cited in Jellinek et al, 1995). An ongoing prospective study of severely abused and neglected children referred to Boston juvenile court has indicated that the child protection legislative process is protracted, complicated and does not provide a secure environment for maltreated children (Jellinek et al, 1992; Jellinek et al, 1995). Empirical investigations have reported that approximately five years elapses between first ofiBcial notification of a child protection concern and final conclusion of a child’s case within juvenile court (Jellinek et al, 1992). Maltreated children have frequently been found to experience multiple placements within the care system (Cooper, Peterson, & Meier, 1987; Holloway, 1997b; Jellinek, Murphy, Poistrast, Quinn, Bishop, & Goshko, 1992; Jellinek, Little, Benedict, Murphy, & Pagano, 1995). Investigators report maltreated foster children typically experience five foster care placements in the first two years following child protection proceedings (Hunter, Coulter, Runyan, & Everson, 1990; cited in Jellinek et al, 1995).

Child maltreatment researchers often refer to the neglect of long term planning by professionals as a reason for the ‘foster care drift’ suffered by maltreated children within the child care system (Cooper et al, 1987; Martin & Beezley, 1977; cited in Cooper et al, 1987; Roberts, 1979; cited in Cooper et al, 1987). The behavioural maladjustment exhibited by many maltreated children is also often cited by professionals as an explanation of foster placement breakdown and frequent placement moves (Borgman,

1981; cited in Cooper et al, 1987; Holloway, 1997b).

The age of the child when first entering care has also been found to be associated with the placement experiences of maltreated children. Children who were younger when they first came into care have been reported to languish significantly longer in short-term foster placements (Cooper et al, 1987). Moreover, younger maltreated children have been reported to be significantly more likely to be placed in adoption or guardianship arrangements (Holloway, 1997a, Jellinek et al, 1992; Jellinek et al, 1995). The permanent adoptive or foster placements of older maltreated children have been reported to be significantly more likely to breakdown than those of younger children (Borland, O’Hara, & Trisleotis 1991; cited in Holloway, 1997a; Holloway, 1997a). Maltreated children with substance abusing or alcoholic parents have also been reported to experience more placement breakdowns than other abused and neglected children (Cooper et al, 1987). Moreover, caregivers have rated the placements of maltreated children over six years old as significantly less successful than those of younger children (Holloway, 1997b).

Furthermore, caretakers rated the placements of emotionally and behaviourally maladjusted foster children as significantly less successful than those of other foster children (Holloway, 1997b).

Professional agency and empirical accounts o f the vulnerability o f maltreated children in the child protection system to further abuse or neglect

Maltreated children who remain within the child protection system have been reported to be at increased risk of a range of negative life experiences. Studies report that twenty percent of maltreated children remain in short term foster care placements seven years after removal fi'om their abusive or neglectful parents (Jellinek et al, 1992; Jellinek et al, 1995). Research studies have reported that forty two percent of abused and neglected children are returned to live with their biological parents after prior compulsory removal because of child maltreatment (Holloway, 1997a; Jellinek et al, 1992; Jellinek et al,

1995).

Maltreated children returned to live with their biological parents have been reported to return to Juvenile court significantly more fi'equently than maltreated children placed in adoption or guardianship arrangements. Two-thirds of abused and neglected children returned to their biological parents reappear in court because of suspected further maltreatment (Jellinek et al, 1995). Returning to live with biological parents has been reported as the most fi'equent cause of foster placement disruption in one British sample

Maltreated children in foster care have been reported in the literature to be at least three times more vulnerable to further abuse or neglect than comparison children living with their biological families (Benedict, Zuravin, Brandt, & Abbey, 1994; Benedict, Zuravin, & Brandt, 1996; Bolton, Laner, & Gai, 1981). Maltreated children with behavioural, developmental or psychological health problems have been found to be more vulnerable to maltreatment in foster care than other foster children (Benedict et al, 1996). Sexually abused children have also been found to be significantly more vulnerable to further abuse than other foster children (Benedict et al, 1996). Moreover, maltreated children in non­ kinship placements have been reported to be more vulnerable to abuse and neglect than other foster children (Benedict et al, 1996).

Children and young people’s perspectives o f the child care system

There has been a recent cultural revolution in the UK to increase children’s participation in decisions that affect their lives. Of most significance to this study, the Children Act 1989 represented the culmination of a shift fi'om viewing children as powerless objects of parental rights to legal citizens whose views and wishes should be ascertained. However, despite this legislation, relatively few studies have examined maltreated children’s perspectives of their care experiences. Those investigations, which have examined children and young people’s perceptions of their care histories, have primarily used a retrospective methodology (Barth, 1988; Festinger, 1983; Meier, 1965; Pouhn, 1985; Rest & Watson, 1984; Triseliotis, 1984; Van Der Waals, 1960; cited in Ruff Johnson,

A prospective study conducted in America (Rufif Johnson et al, 1995) of eleven to fourteen year old young people’s perceptions of family foster care reported findings with important empirical and clinical implications. Forty percent of young people interviewed were confused about the circumstances that had resulted in them entering care. Thirty percent of young people attributed the responsibility for them entering care externally to parental maltreatment or substance dependence. Almost sixty percent of children reported that they had no involvement or responsibility for decisions to change foster care placements. Most adolescents reported that social workers or foster parents were responsible for placement decisions. One third of children reported regretting the loss of friends known before they enter foster care. However, half the young people reported that their new peers, neighbourhoods and lifestyles in foster care were more positive than those they had left were. Over half of the young people interviewed reported frequently missing their birth parents and emphasised that their biological families should maintain regular contact with them. One third of maltreated young people were apprehensive about returning to live with their families. Sixty percent of adolescents attributed responsibility for them returning home externally to social work professionals or their parents. The majority of young people believed that their parents needed to acquire either economic or psychological resources before they could safely return home. Sixty percent of adolescents interviewed believed that it was appropriate for State agencies to place young people in family foster care to prevent further maltreatment and provide a better quality of life for disadvantaged adolescents (Ruff Johnson et al, 1995).

1.8 Methodological weaknesses and ethics of research in the area of child