Findings from a longitudinal study of early placements: Messages for policy and practice

Findings from a longitudinal study of early placements: Messages for policy and practice

Anna Ponomarenko, Jeanne Kaniuk, Jeff Mesie · Coram

This follow-up covered 12 children aged seven to fifteen placed through Coram’s concurrent-planning service. Parents completed surveys, ten were interviewed, and two young people were interviewed directly. No participating family reported a placement disruption. Two-thirds of the children had learning or developmental difficulties, and the two young people described closeness to their adoptive families.

Limitations: Small, selective follow-up. None of the returning families had been in the earlier moderate-to-high support-needs category. Most child evidence was parent-reported, with only two direct young-person interviews. Parent satisfaction is not used as a child outcome here. Coram evaluated its own service and advocates early permanence. This institutional relationship should be considered.

Research type

Longitudinal service follow-up

Source reviewed

Full text

Peer reviewed

No

Age group

Mixed