Foster Care Instability in Alaska

Alaska

Children require consistency, predictability and attachment to caring adults in order to thrive. This is especially true for children in foster care, who may have experienced trauma before their foster placement.

Foster care is associated with physical, mental and emotional health issues, including:

• Academic difficulties.
• Attachment issues, separation anxiety and distrust of others.
• Chronic unemployment.
• Low self-esteem and self-efficacy. 
• Decreased inclusion in positive social networks. 
• Substance use and risky sexual behaviors.

Children at risk of increased foster care instability include:

• Older children compared with younger children. 
• Children with clinical diagnoses of emotional disturbance; additional medical diagnoses increase the risk.
• Children who are in the foster care system for longer periods of time.

Strategies to improve foster care stability include:

• Using assessment and decision-making tools to match children and foster families. The Every Child a Priority (ECAP) algorithm-based matching system has yielded strong positive results in placement stability.
• Addressing children’s emotional and behavioral health needs. 
• Promoting caseworker retention and ongoing education, including training on attachment theory and other factors that impact the stability of foster care. 
• Prioritizing placement of children with relatives.

Healthy People 2030 has a goal to increase the proportion of adolescents in foster care who show signs of being ready for adulthood.

Courtney, Mark E., Amy Dworsky, Adam Brown, Colleen Cary, Kara Love, and Vanessa Vorhies. “Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 26.” Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 2011. https://www.chapinhall.org/wp-content/uploads/Midwest-Eval-Outcomes-at-Age-26.pdf.

Miranda, Megan, Eman Tadros, and Elizabeth Molla. “The Experience of Foster Care and Long-Term Attachment.” The American Journal of Family Therapy 48, no. 1 (January 1, 2020): 87–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2019.1679053.

Noonan, Kathleen, David Rubin, Robin Mekonnen, Sarah Zlotnik, and Amanda O’Reilly. “Securing Child Safety, Well-Being, and Permanency Through Placement Stability in Foster Care.” Evidence to Action Briefs. PolicyLab at CHOP Research Institute, Fall 2009. https://policylab.chop.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/PolicyLab_EtoA_CSAW_Fall_2009.pdf.

Smithgall, Cheryl, Robert Matthew Gladden, Eboni Howard, Robert Goerge, and Mark Courtney. “Educational Experiences of Children in Out-Of-Home Care.” Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, 2004. https://www.chapinhall.org/wp-content/uploads/Smithgall_Educational-Experiences-Children-Out-of-Home_Report_2004.pdf.

Stott, Tonia. “Placement Instability and Risky Behaviors of Youth Aging Out of Foster Care.” Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 29, no. 1 (February 2012): 61–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-011-0247-8.