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182276 Number of foster care placements and loss as predictors of the behavior problems and posttraumatic stress symptoms of children in foster care

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lisa Benson, MS , School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Jacqueline Wallen, PhD , Department of Family Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Edmond D. Shenassa, ScD , University of Maryland, College Park, MD
We examined frequency of foster care placements and feelings of loss as potential predictors of risk of behavior problems and posttraumatic stress symptomatology among children in foster care. Study participants were 74 predominantly African American (81%) 6 to 15 year old children and their foster caregivers. Foster caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist and Parent Report of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms. Regression analyses revealed that frequency of foster placements predicts risk of posttraumatic stress, but is independent of risk of internalizing or externalizing behaviors. Ambiguous loss is independent of posttraumatic stress symptoms, internalizing behavior, and externalizing behavior. Implications of the findings for child welfare professionals and policy makers are discussed.

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to: 1. Understand sources of traumatic stress faced by children in foster care; 2. Describe the developmental implications of foster care placement; 3. Describe barriers to resilience among children in foster care; 4. Identify interventions used to minimize the experience of posttraumatic stress by child in foster care.

Keywords: Child/Adolescent Mental Health, Social Work

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: In addition to presenting at several national conferences previously, I have spent more than three years living with and studying foster children with posttraumatic stress. I obtained a Masters degree in family studies from the University of Maryland and am currently completing requirements for a PhD in maternal and child health. I have had sufficient research training and firsthand experience with traumatized foster children to author this abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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