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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

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01-01-2015 | Original Article

Out-of-Home Placement Decision-Making and Outcomes in Child Welfare: A Longitudinal Study

Authors: Ka Ho Brian Chor, Gary M. McClelland, Dana A. Weiner, Neil Jordan, John S. Lyons

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

After children enter the child welfare system, subsequent out-of-home placement decisions and their impact on children’s well-being are complex and under-researched. This study examined two placement decision-making models: a multidisciplinary team approach, and a decision support algorithm using a standardized assessment. Based on 3,911 placement records in the Illinois child welfare system over 4 years, concordant (agreement) and discordant (disagreement) decisions between the two models were compared. Concordant decisions consistently predicted improvement in children’s well-being regardless of placement type. Discordant decisions showed greater variability. In general, placing children in settings less restrictive than the algorithm suggested (“under-placing”) was associated with less severe baseline functioning but also less improvement over time than placing children according to the algorithm. “Over-placing” children in settings more restrictive than the algorithm recommended was associated with more severe baseline functioning but fewer significant results in rate of improvement than predicted by concordant decisions. The importance of placement decision-making on policy, restrictiveness of placement, and delivery of treatments and services in child welfare are discussed.

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Title: Out-of-Home Placement Decision-Making and Outcomes in Child Welfare: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Ka Ho Brian Chor
Gary M. McClelland
Dana A. Weiner
Neil Jordan
John S. Lyons
Publication date: 01-01-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0545-5

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Out-of-Home Placement Decision-Making and Outcomes in Child Welfare: A Longitudinal Study

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