A troubled group? Adolescents in a Canadian child welfare sample

ObjectivesTo examine factors associated with ongoing service and out of home placement for adolescents investigated by child welfare services in Canada.MethodsSecondary analysis was conducted using data from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, 2008 (CIS-2008), specifically examining a weighted sample of 58,641 adolescents (age 12–15). Descriptive comparisons between adolescents, school-age children and pre-school age children were conducted. After identifying significant bivariate relationships between ongoing service and out of home placement and youth, household, case, and service characteristics, logistic regressions were used to determine the degree to which these characteristics predicted the investigation being transferred to ongoing child welfare services or out of home placement.ResultsInternalizing functioning concerns of adolescents in the sample were the most important contributors to decisions to provide ongoing service. Aboriginal status of the child and parent functioning concerns were also important contributors to the decision to provide ongoing service to adolescents and their families. Youths' externalizing behaviors were the most important contributors to placing adolescents in out-of-home care.ConclusionsThe results provide important information for child welfare agencies hoping to better understand decision-making processes and service provision to adolescents.ImplicationsFuture research should seek to better understand why youth behaviors drive ongoing service and placement decisions.