NCJ Number
14703
Date Published
1973
Length
69 pages
Annotation
A COMPARISON BETWEEN INSTITUTIONAL AND NON-INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
Abstract
IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT FOSTER FAMILY AND GROUP HOMES ARE BETTER LIVING ENVIRONMENTS FOR DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN THAN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR THIS BELIEF IS INCOMPLETE, AND EVEN NONEXISTENT IF ONE IS INTERESTED, SAY, IN COMPARING THE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN OF A SERIES OF FOSTER FAMILY WITH THE EFFECTS OF A GIVEN INSTITUTION. ONE MAY INTUITIVELY FEEL THAT MOST DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN NONINSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS, BUT HE OR SHE SHOULD REALIZE THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF SUCH CHILDREN ARE ALREADY IN NONINSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE TREND TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION DURING THE LAST THIRTY YEARS HAS SAVED LARGE SUMS OF PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH FOSTER PARENTS PROGRAMS, BUT IT IS IMPROBABLE THAT SIMILAR SAVINGS CAN BE MADE IN THE FUTURE. POLICY MAKERS MUST FACE GREATER COSTS IN PROVIDING NONINSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR ADDITIONAL DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN SINCE THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT PUBLIC COSTS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BY FURTHER DEINSTITUTIONALIZING. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES MUST UNDERTAKE GREATER RESEARCH EFFORTS ON REMAINING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF FOSTER CARE. WITHOUT MORE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE, THE INTERESTS OF DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN MIGHT BEST BE SERVED BY A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION. SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION IS PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)