Objectives - Given the rapid and significant physical, affective and cognitive development of babies and toddlers and the complete reliance and dependency on their caregivers, the experience of replacement after a failed reunification may be especially harmful for them. In many cases, within a limited time frame after out-of-home placement, a key decision on family preservation needs to be taken. Findings on failed reunification indicate adverse outcomes in the context of permanency planning. In order to prevent children from further harm, a thorough understanding of the decision-making process is imperative. Using the Decision-Making Ecology (DME) as a framework (Baumann et al., 2013), the current study explores how family-, parent-, and child-related factors are associated with the professional decision regarding family preservation.
Method - Our sample derives from the Expertise Centre for Treatment and Assessment of Parenting and Psychiatry in the Northern part of the Netherlands (Vischer et al, 2016). This Centre provides a kind of a ‘last resort’, assessment-based intervention to families who are aiming either to be reunited with their young child (0-2) or to avoid an (permanent) out-of-home placement. The characteristics of 57 families were investigated through extensive file analysis by using a coding system, based upon two Dutch categorizing instruments on treatment goals and type of problems children and adolescents in youth care (Konijn, Bruinsma, Lekkerkerker, De Wilde, & Eijgenraam, 2009; Reith, Hofman, Stams, & Van Yperen, 2008). Some examples of the variables studied are type of service use within a family, type of psychological problems of the parents, functioning of the child and characteristics of the relationship of caregivers (e.g. violent, unstable). Group differences were studied using regression analysis for exploring which predictors determine the decision on family preservation.
Results – Differences between families whom are given a final chance to stay together ('go') and families for whom a separation decision ('no go') was being made have been explored. The ‘go’ group existed of 29 families, for the remainder families (28) out-of-home placement of the child was decided. Differences were found, among others factors, in the type of service use, characteristics of the relationship of parents, neglect in childhood of parents and learning (dis)abilities. Regression analyses indicated some typical predictors.
Conclusion- In the presentation we will discuss the outcomes of our study, especially by reflecting on the meaning of identified predictors of the 'go - no go' decision, including the impact this might have for the current assessment procedure and decision-making processes as applied by the practitioners at the Expertise Centre.
Baumann, D.J., Fluke, J.D., Dalgleish, L., & Kern, H. (2013). The decision making ecology. In A. Shlonsky, & R. Benbenishty (eds.), From evidence to outcomes in child welfare: An international reader (pp. 24-40). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Konijn, C., Bruinsma, W., Lekkerkerker, L., De Wilde, E. J., & Eijgenraam, K. (2009). Ontwikkeling en onderzoek naar het Classificatiesysteem Aard Problematiek Jeugdzorg (CAP-J) [Development and evaluation of a taxonomy to classify types of problems in youth care]. Utrecht, the Netherlands: Nederlands Jeugdinstituut.
Reith, W., Hofman, R., Stams, G.J.J.M., & Van Yperen, T.A. (2008). Hulpverleningsdoelen categoriseren met de Doelenboom. Ontwikkeling van een categorieënsysteem voor hulpverleningsdoelen in een jeugdzorginstelling [Categorizing treatment goals with the Goaltree. Development of a taxonomy for treatment goals in a youth care organisation]. Kind en Adolescent, 29(4), 221-234. doi: 10.1007/BF03076764
Vischer, A.W.K., Grietens, H., Knorth, E.J., & Mulder, H. (2016). Assessing parenting in the context of reunification of infants and toddlers and their families: How to face the challenges? Manuscript submitted for publication.
Assessment and decision making in child welfare , Prevention and family intervention programs
