Who’s Been Served and How?
Author | Chris Lee,Amanda Pearson,Marc Winokur,Rebecca Orsi |
Published date | 01 January 2018 |
Date | 01 January 2018 |
DOI | 10.1177/1541204017721614 |
Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Who’s Been Served and How?
Permanency Outcomes for
Children and Youth Involved
in Child Welfare and
Youth Corrections
Rebecca Orsi
1
, Chris Lee
1
, Marc Winokur
1
, and Amanda Pearson
2
Abstract
Child welfare systems were created to protect maltreated children. However, adolescents today
can be involved with child welfare for reasons other than maltreatment, including behavior issues.
Such youth are also commonly involved in the youth corrections system. This study examines youth
characteristics and risk factors which predict attaining permanency at case closure for youth
involved in child welfare primarily for behavioral reasons. The sample consists of 5,691 youth aged
10–17 served in Colorado between 2007 and 2013. A multinomial logit model identified predictors
of nonpermanent outcomes and of placement with return home, compared to remaining home
throughout case involvement. Results show that the following characteristics and risks have a
positive relationship with nonpermanent outcomes: longer case duration, prior child welfare pla-
cement, felony involvement, crimes against persons or property, truancy, running away, and gang
membership. Services provided by the child welfare system are negatively related to nonpermanent
outcomes.
Keywords
child welfare, juvenile justice, youth corrections, crossover youth, congregate care, beyond control
of parents
Introduction
Child protective services (CPS) and the broader child welfare system were originally created to
protect children from abuse and neglect (Schene, 1998). Close to 400,000 young people in the
United States reside in foster care in a given year, with more than one third comprised of youth
1
School of Social Work, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
2
School of Education, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Corresponding Author:
Rebecca Orsi, School of Social Work, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Email: becky.orsi@colostate.edu
Youth Violence and JuvenileJustice
2018, Vol. 16(1) 3-17
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/1541204017721614
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