Maltreatment in foster care: a review of the evidence

TY - JOUR

T1 - Maltreatment in foster care

T2 - a review of the evidence

AU - Biehal, Nina

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This article examines the evidence on maltreatment in foster care, drawing on a critical review of research published in the USA, the UK and Australia. Few studies have reported on the extent of maltreatment in this setting and the evidence that does exist is inconclusive. The limited available evidence suggests that maltreatment may be reported for up to two per cent of children in foster care in any one year, but much depends on the definitions used and on local variation in thresholds for investigation. The article discusses the perpetrators and nature of this maltreatment and problems with substantiation, and highlights important gaps in the existing research.

AB - This article examines the evidence on maltreatment in foster care, drawing on a critical review of research published in the USA, the UK and Australia. Few studies have reported on the extent of maltreatment in this setting and the evidence that does exist is inconclusive. The limited available evidence suggests that maltreatment may be reported for up to two per cent of children in foster care in any one year, but much depends on the definitions used and on local variation in thresholds for investigation. The article discusses the perpetrators and nature of this maltreatment and problems with substantiation, and highlights important gaps in the existing research.

KW - Maltreatment

KW - foster care

KW - abuse

KW - looked after children

KW - social work

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84874385053&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/car.2249

DO - 10.1002/car.2249

M3 - Article

SN - 0952-9136

VL - 23

SP - 48

EP - 60

JO - Child Abuse Review

JF - Child Abuse Review

ER -