Functioning of Israeli group-homes alumni: Exploring gender differences and in-care correlates

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2005.02.010

Children and Youth Services Review

Volume 28, Issue 2, February 2006, Pages 133-157

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2005.02.010 Get rights and content

Abstract

This follow-up study examined the current functioning of young adult alumni of a large network of group-homes in Israel. Our aim was to identify factors explaining their current functioning and explore gender differences. Background and in-care experiences were gathered on 143 alumni (64 men and 79 women). One hundred nine of those alumni (51 men and 58 women) agreed to be interviewed. Despite their disadvantaged background prior to entering care, alumni functioned adequately and were in good health. Girls seem to have more positive in-care experiences than boys. A child's academic functioning while in care was a positive predictor for alumni current functioning status. Our study identifies areas of concern such as alumni relative low educational level, and suggests directions for future interventions and longitudinal studies.

Introduction

The Western world generally accepts that biological parents are responsible for their children's safety, normal development and well-being (Mosek, Taus, & Shumody, 1998). It is only when biological parents cannot adequately look after their children that the State intervenes (Benbenishty & Oyserman, 1995, Roy et al., 2000, Tatara, 1994). In such cases, children may be placed in residential care, in group-homes or in foster care (Wolkind & Rushton, 1994). In Israel, about 9000 children at risk are placed in out-of-home care, with about 80% of them placed in residential care or in group-homes (National Council for the Child, 2001). There are only a few empirical studies on these children while in care or when they leave care as young adults (an exception is Weiner & Kupermintz, 2001). Follow-up studies on how young adult alumni function after leaving the group-homes are extremely important for long-term evaluation and improvements in this type of care.

Here we present a follow-up study of alumni of a large network of group-homes in Israel. This network is a nonprofit organization, which established and currently operates 22 group-homes caring for about 300 children at risk. These children, who are referred for out-of-home placement by local welfare offices, have a background of abuse, neglect, or other environmental and familial disadvantages. They live in groups of about ten children, aged 6–18 years, in a private home owned by the network and run by a married couple. These group-home parents, who typically do not have formal training in the helping professions, are responsible for the group of children for about 3–4 years. Only one of them works out of the house, and they maintain ‘normal’ family life, taking care of their own children, who live with them, and the children in care. Social workers and psychologists work both with the children and with the parents.

This study examines the current functioning of alumni of these group-homes, attempts to identify factors explaining and predicting their current functioning status, and explores gender differences.

Section snippets

What constitutes functioning status among alumni of out-of-home care and what do we know about their functioning from previous studies?

Mech (1994) defined five aspects of functioning for graduates of out-of-home placement: education, employment, living arrangements, supportive networks, and costs to community in terms of need of public assistance. His definition is widely accepted by researchers in out-of-home care (Reilly, 2003). In general, while early studies on adults who were raised in residential care showed a consistent picture of frequent psychological difficulties (for review see Wolkind & Rushton, 1994), more recent

Predictors of how young alumni will function as adults

In this study we examine factors that may predict functioning after leaving group-home care. We have used attachment theory (Bowlby, 1973) as our main conceptual framework. Attachment theory posits that attachment to a caregiver and to an intimate partner later in life is a basic, even biological, need of every human being. Children's attachment to the primary caregiver at an early age has an impact on their relationships with other authority figures, friends and intimate partners, as well as

Gender differences

Children in care show consistent gender differences in psychological distress and behavioral difficulties, with boys showing many more conduct symptoms or disorders than girls (for review see Wolkind & Rushton, 1994). Adult alumni of residential care also show gender specific different patterns of difficulties (Wolkind & Rushton, 1994). The men's major area of difficulty is involvement with the law (Minty & Ashcroft, 1987), while the major difficulties for women involve early pregnancy, single

Population

All the 156 alumni of a network of group-homes in Israel who were at least 18 years old at the beginning of the study.

Sample

We intended to interview all the 156 alumni of that network of group-homes about their current functioning and to obtain background and in-care experiences information from their files. However, background information was available from the files of only 143 children (64 males and 79 females). We then put much effort to locate and interview all those 143 alumni. We located 142

Parental background

Table 1 shows that 69.4% of the girls and 56.8% of the boys referred for group-home placement had a father who used violence against family members. The fathers of 36.4% of the girls and 56.8% of the boys were substance abusers. The fathers of 24.4% of the girls and of 30.0% of the boys had served time in jail. The mothers of 61% of the children suffered from economic disadvantage. In addition, the mothers of 36.7% of the girls and 24.2% of the boys suffered from psychiatric problems. None of

Discussion

This study examines the current functioning of alumni of group-homes, attempts to identify factors explaining and predicting their current functioning status, and explores gender differences. The participants in the study showed an overall disadvantaged early childhood. Many of their parents were violent, abused substances, and had physical and psychiatric health problems. As children, they suffered from many difficulties when they entered the group-home, such as emotional, behavioral and

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Functioning of Israeli group-homes alumni: Exploring gender differences and in-care correlates

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

What constitutes functioning status among alumni of out-of-home care and what do we know about their functioning from previous studies?

Predictors of how young alumni will function as adults

Gender differences

Population

Sample

Parental background

Discussion

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Children and Youth Services Review

Child Abuse and Neglect

Children and Youth Service Review

Children and Youth Services Review

Journal of Affective Disorders

Children and Youth Services Review

Child Abuse and Neglect

Attachment beyond infancy

American Psychologist

Attachment and adolescent psychosocial functioning

Child Development

Back to the future: Effective residential group care and treatment for children and youth and the Fritz Redl legacy

Children and Youth Care Forum

Community-based residential child and youth care work: Opportunity of oxymoron?

Children and Youth Care Forum

Back to the future: Effective residential group care and treatment for children and the Fritz Redle legacy

Children and Youth Care Forum

Children in foster-care—Their present situation and plans for their future

International Social Work

A follow-up study of former residents of “Orr Shalom”

A secure base: Parent–child attachment and healthy human development

Caring for troubled children in Flanders, the Netherlands, and the United-Kingdom

British Journal of Social Work

Foster youth transition to adulthood: A longitudinal view of youth leaving care

Child Welfare

Children's needs assessment and intervention plans in nine residential care treatment for children under the age of 14

A longitudinal evaluation of prevalent negative beliefs about residential placement for troubled adolescents

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

Multidimensional life satisfaction among adolescents in a residential treatment setting: Changes across time and its relationship with social desirability

Residential Treatment for Children and Youth

Recollections of parental behaviour, adult attachment and mental health: Mediating and moderating effects

Psychological Medicine

Research of graduates the S.O.S. children's village “Neradim” Arad

Understanding and supporting parent–child relationships during foster care visits: Attachment theory and research

Social Work

Parent attachment concept: Crucial for permanency planning

Journal of Contemporary Social Work

Case and context: Determinants of planned visit frequency in foster family care

Child Welfare

Gender differences in the relation between stressful life events and adjustment among school-aged children

Sex Roles

Attachment theory for social work practice

Attachment relationships in a context of multiple caregivers

Attachment style in adults who failed to thrive as children: Outcomes of a 20 year follow-up study of factors influencing maintenance or change in attachment style

British Journal of Social Work

Educating children in residential and foster care

Oxford Review of Education