Impact of Placement Stability on Behavioral Development in Foster Youth

Abstract

By Elizabeth Holden, Social Work

Advisor: Gary Dick

Abstract: The present study examined the impact of placement stability on the behavioral development in foster youth. This quantitative study examined forty-five files of youth discharged from the National Youth Advocate program. These files were analyzed by examining the number of moves they experienced while in care compared to the change in Daily Living Assessment scores upon arrival and discharge. The percent change in scores was calculated and analyzed by grouping youth who experienced the same number of moves scores together, and comparing score changes between groups. Statistically significant evidence was found to support the hypothesis that behavioral development decreases as the number of placements increase.