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Multiculturalism and Social Work | San Francisco State University

Outcomes of permanent family placement for children of minority ethnic origin.

Author: Moffatt,-Peter-G; Thoburn, June
Author Background: U East Anglia, School of Economic and Social Studies, Norwich, England
Date 2/2001
Type Journal
Journal Title: Child-and-Family-Social-Work
Volume/Pages Vol 6(1): 13-21
Publisher
Subject Matter Adopted Children; Adoption Child; Family Relations; Minority Groups, Research, England, Child Welfare
Population
Pedagogies
Abstract Explores the outcomes of permanent family placement for children of minority ethnic origin, using a sample of 254 (aged 7-13 yrs) placements drawn, in the main, from a cohort of 1165 British children placed between 1980-1985. Statistical techniques are used to explore the relationship between 'success' (defined, for the purposes of this paper, as the placement not known to have broken down) and a range of variables, including the characteristics of the child, the birth parents and the adoptive parents, and the type of placement. The results show age at placement is found to have an important effect, with success least likely for children placed in the middle age range. Lack of problem behaviors in the children at the time of placement is also found to be associated with success. Variables which are found to have no effect on the probability of success include ethnic origin of the child, whether it is an adoptive or permanent foster placement, and whether contact with birth parents continued after placement. It is noted that there was a gender effect in that boys did better in 'transracial' than in 'matched' placements, but the opposite was the case for girls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2000 APA, all rights reserved)
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