Cross-system barriers to educational success for children in foster care: The front line perspective

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2012-02, Vol.34 (2), p.403-408
• Main Authors: Noonan, Kathleen, Matone, Meredith, Zlotnik, Sarah, Hernandez-Mekonnen, Robin, Watts, Caroline, Rubin, David, Mollen, Cynthia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavioural problems; Child welfare; Child Welfare Services; Children; Communications; Constraints; Cooperation; Education; Education system; Educational Systems; Foster Care; Foster Children; Fostering connections; Health Problems; Innovations; Mental disorders; Policy; Policy Implementation; Reviews; Stakeholders; Systems collaboration; Urban areas
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.11.006

Children in out-of-home placements are at increased risk for a multitude of poor educational outcomes. The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 requires child welfare and education systems to collaborate towards improved educational outcomes for children in foster care. This study performed focus groups with ground-level stakeholders from child welfare and education systems to solicit information on the barriers, strategies, and daily experiences of working across systems towards educational success for children in child welfare in a large, urban area. Ten focus groups were completed with a total of 90 study participants. Knowledge and implementation of policies related to the educational needs of children in foster care was highly variable among participants. Across all groups, ineffective and limited cross-system communication, role uncertainty among stakeholders, and prevalence and complexity of behavioral health needs among children were identified as barriers to achieving educational success for children in foster care. Innovative approaches to cross-system collaboration between education and child welfare systems are needed to affect these positive outcomes. The complexity of mental health service provision for children in foster care with behavioral problems will require improved cross-system collaboration. ► 2008 Federal legislation includes educational mandates for children in foster care. ► The study sought input from ground-level agents on enacting educational mandates. ► Focus groups identified implementation barriers tied to cross-system communication. ► Focus groups identified current strategies to achieve positive educational results. ► Increased cross-system collaboration is needed to successfully implement policies.