Abstract
Objective: To estimate the influence of out-of-home care on reading scores, attendance, and suspensions by comparing a matched sample of maltreated children who entered out-of-home care and maltreated children who remained at home. Study design: Linked administrative data for all children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2010 was used, focusing on those with substantiated maltreatment before year 9 achievement tests (n = 3297). Propensity score modelling was used to address differences in preexisting risk factors (child, family, neighborhood characteristics, maltreatment history, and reading scores) and compare outcomes for children placed in out-of-home care and those remaining in in-home care. Results: Both groups of maltreated children had poor educational outcomes. After accounting for group differences in risk characteristics, there was no difference in year 9 reading achievement for the out-of-home care and in-home care groups. There was no difference in suspensions for the groups. The only significant difference was children in out-of-home care had fewer school absences than children in in-home care. Conclusions: Out-of-home care was not found to be a significant factor in the adverse educational outcomes of these children; however, there is a clear need for further educational support to address poor outcomes for children involved with child protection services.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 287-293.e2 |
| Journal | Journal of Pediatrics |
| Volume | 198 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2018 |
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Out-of-Home Care and the Educational Achievement, Attendance, and Suspensions of Maltreated Children : A Propensity-Matched Study. / Maclean, Miriam J.; Taylor, Catherine L.; O'Donnell, Melissa.
In: Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 198, 01.07.2018, p. 287-293.e2.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Out-of-Home Care and the Educational Achievement, Attendance, and Suspensions of Maltreated Children
T2 - A Propensity-Matched Study
AU - Maclean, Miriam J.
AU - Taylor, Catherine L.
AU - O'Donnell, Melissa
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - Objective: To estimate the influence of out-of-home care on reading scores, attendance, and suspensions by comparing a matched sample of maltreated children who entered out-of-home care and maltreated children who remained at home. Study design: Linked administrative data for all children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2010 was used, focusing on those with substantiated maltreatment before year 9 achievement tests (n = 3297). Propensity score modelling was used to address differences in preexisting risk factors (child, family, neighborhood characteristics, maltreatment history, and reading scores) and compare outcomes for children placed in out-of-home care and those remaining in in-home care. Results: Both groups of maltreated children had poor educational outcomes. After accounting for group differences in risk characteristics, there was no difference in year 9 reading achievement for the out-of-home care and in-home care groups. There was no difference in suspensions for the groups. The only significant difference was children in out-of-home care had fewer school absences than children in in-home care. Conclusions: Out-of-home care was not found to be a significant factor in the adverse educational outcomes of these children; however, there is a clear need for further educational support to address poor outcomes for children involved with child protection services.
AB - Objective: To estimate the influence of out-of-home care on reading scores, attendance, and suspensions by comparing a matched sample of maltreated children who entered out-of-home care and maltreated children who remained at home. Study design: Linked administrative data for all children born in Western Australia between 1990 and 2010 was used, focusing on those with substantiated maltreatment before year 9 achievement tests (n = 3297). Propensity score modelling was used to address differences in preexisting risk factors (child, family, neighborhood characteristics, maltreatment history, and reading scores) and compare outcomes for children placed in out-of-home care and those remaining in in-home care. Results: Both groups of maltreated children had poor educational outcomes. After accounting for group differences in risk characteristics, there was no difference in year 9 reading achievement for the out-of-home care and in-home care groups. There was no difference in suspensions for the groups. The only significant difference was children in out-of-home care had fewer school absences than children in in-home care. Conclusions: Out-of-home care was not found to be a significant factor in the adverse educational outcomes of these children; however, there is a clear need for further educational support to address poor outcomes for children involved with child protection services.
KW - academic outcomes
KW - child abuse
KW - foster care
KW - neglect
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046343584&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.03.027
DO - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.03.027
M3 - Article
VL - 198
SP - 287-293.e2
JO - The Journal of Pediatrics
JF - The Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0022-3476
ER -