Intro: Children with disabilities in foster care face significant challenges when it comes to adoption, guardianship or reunion with family, according to a recent study released on the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
A study released on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)’s website entitled “The Effect of Initial Disability on Permanency Outcomes of Children in Foster Care” explains how foster children with disabilities face more significant challenges than children without disabilities.
Released on Sept. 27, the study states how foster children with disabilities are more likely to face maltreatment and “have a higher risk of mortality while in care,” according to the AAP website posting. Findings also show that children with disabilities in foster care are less likely to be reunited with their families or adopted compared to children without disabilities.
“In undertaking this study, we expected to find differential outcomes for children with disabilities,” said senior author Jill D McLeigh, PhD. “We were, however, surprised by the degree to which risk levels for failing to achieve permanency were higher for children with disabilities – across several disability types.”
Children in foster care with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities and emotional disturbances had a significantly higher risk of facing challenges.
Research for the study examined 14 years of data for 3.24 million children between the ages of 0 and 16. Used data was provided by the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS) of the U.S.
According to AAP’s website, there are few studies that widely explore both disability and foster care status, with these previous studies only focusing on either a single location or small samples.
“Given that children in foster care have higher rates of disability, it is very important that the child welfare and healthcare systems work to address the needs of this highly vulnerable population and to provide support to their caregivers, ” said Dr. Singh, the study’s author who presented the study’s findings at the AAP 2024 National Conference & Exhibition held in Orange County, Florida, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a U.S.-based organization that is devoted to enhancing all children’s overall well-being.
