Characteristics and outcomes of drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children in kinship and non-relative foster care

This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children in kinship and non-relative foster care. Outcomes included educational performance, emotional development, and problem behavior. Children were an average of 7.9 years old at the rime of the study and were either (a) non drug-exposed children placed with kin (n = 139), (b) drug-exposed children placed with kin (n = 103), (c) non drug-exposed children placed with non-relatives (n = 184), or (d) drug-exposed children placed with non-relatives (n = 155), Data were collected with a mailed questionnaire completed by subjects' foster caregivers. The findings showed both similarities and differences among groups in foster family and child characteristics. The findings also showed that educational performance was similar among groups, while emotional and behavioral development differed significantly. Multivariate analysis revealed that non drug-exposed children placed with kin were less likely than other children to exhibit problem behavior. This study confirms that drug-exposed foster children can and do achieve positive educational, emotional, and behavioral outcomes similar to their non drug-exposed, counterparts. It also suggests that placement in kinship care may have different implications for drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children.