Participants

1
Externalizing Behaviors in Children In-care The
Role of Child-welfare Workers and Foster Families
Connie Cheung1,2, Deborah Goodman2, George
Leckie3, Jennifer M. Jenkins1, Heather Prime1 and
Mark Wade1 1Department of Human Development and
Applied Psychology, University of Toronto, 2Child
Welfare Institute of the Childrens Aid Society
of Toronto, and 3Centre for Multilevel Modeling,
University of Bristol
Abstract
Results

The current study examined the simultaneous
influence of workers and foster families on
childrens externalizing behaviors in children
receiving out-of-home care. Results suggested
that although individual differences in child
externalizing are primarily attributable to
child-specific effects (72), 10 and 18 of the
variance can be explained by worker and
foster-family influences respectively. Worker
education accounted for substantial differences
seen between workers. More difficult children are
monitored by workers with less educational
attainment. Foster-family level predictors were
also found to explain variance in childrens
externalizing behaviors. Relative to children in
regular foster care, those in kinship care
displayed significantly lower levels of child
externalizing while children in group care
displayed significantly higher levels. Higher
levels of ambient parental negativity and the
experience of more differential parental
negativity relative to siblings were
significantly associated with more child
externalizing. Lastly, children who were more
satisfied with their placement displayed
significantly lower levels of problematic
behaviors.
10, 18 and 72 of the variance in childrens
externalizing scores was at the worker,
foster-family and child level, respectively Worke
r-level Education Workers with less formal
education were more likely to work with children
with higher levels of externalizing behaviors and
explained 24 of the variance at the worker
level Type of Foster-care Placement Relative to
those in regular foster care, children in kinship
care displayed lower levels of externalizing
behaviors whereas those in group care displayed
higher levels. These variables explained 25 of
the variance at the foster-family level. Foster
Parent Negativity Higher levels of externalizing
behaviors was associated with children from more
negative foster families and those who
experienced more foster-parent negativity
relative to their foster siblings. Quality of
Foster-care Placement Higher quality foster-care
placements were associated with lower levels of
externalizing behaviors.
Figure 1 The multilevel, cross-classification of
children in-care
Methods

• Participants
• Year 7 data from the Ontario Looking After
  Children (OnLAC) project
• 1,063 children between the ages of 10-17 years of
  age
• 459 girls and 604 boys
• Measures
• Response Variable
• Child externalizing behaviors
• 10-15 year olds self, foster parent and worker
  reports
• 16-17 year olds foster parent and worker reports
• Predictor Variables
• Worker Level
• Worker Education higher scores reflected more
  formal education
• Family Level
• Type of Foster-care Placement (regular foster
  care, kinship care and group care)
• Ambient Parental Negativity (family average of
  parental negativity within a family)

Background

• Externalizing Behaviors in Children In-care
• 42 of children fall within the clinical range
  for externalizing behaviors1.
• Understanding Externalizing Behaviors in Children
  in-Care from a Multilevel Perspective
• Differences between agencies and child-welfare
  workers explain, in part, why children in-care
  show different patterns of development2,3.
• Missing link influence of the foster family
• 15-40 of variance in childrens problematic
  behaviors
• can be explained by family membership4
• The environment in which children in-care grow up
  is very
• complex
• Children in-care are nested within foster
  families
• Children within the same foster family may be
  monitored by different workers
• Workers tend to monitor children from difference
  families
• To account for this data structure, a multilevel,
  cross-classified

Discussion

• Childrens externalizing behaviors are influenced
  by different contextual factors
• Combined, worker and foster-family effects
  explained 28 of the
• variance in childrens externalizing
  behaviors
• Workers with more formal education are more
  likely to work with less difficult children
• Selection Effect some workers may be more
  more likely selected or
• assigned to work with more difficult children
• Causal Effect some workers may be more
  resourceful at working the
• interface between children and placement
• Externalizing behaviors and type of foster-care
  placement
• Children in group homes may experience higher
  levels of externalizing
• behaviors because of increased exposure to
  delinquent acts through
• their peers
• Externalizing behaviors are associated with the
  emotional climate of foster family
• Childrens externalizing behaviors may be
  influenced by the
• experience of being disfavoured by parents
• Children who are more satisfied with their
  placement displayed lower
• levels of externalizing behaviors,
  highlighting the importance of
• security in childrens long-term adjustment

References 1 Keil, V. Price, J. (2006).
Externalizing behavior disorder in child welfare
settings Definitions, prevalence, and
implications for assessment and treatment.
Children and Youth Services Review, 28,
761-779. 2 Attar-Schwartz, S. (2008). Emotional,
behavioral and social problems among Israeli
children in residential care A multi-level
analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 30,
229-248. 3Ryan, J., Garnier,P., Zyphur, M.,
Zhai, F. (2006). Investigating the effects of
caseworker characteristics in child welfare.
Children and Youth Services, Review, 28,
993-1006. 4 Jenkins, J., Simpson, A., Dunn, J.,
Rasbash, J., OConnor, T.G. (2005). Mutual
influence of marital conflict and childrens
behavior problems Shared and nonshared family
risks. Child Development, 76, 24-39.