Abstract
Very little research has focused on rates of trauma exposure for youth in treatment foster care (TFC). Available research
has utilized record review for assessing exposure, which presents limitations for the range of trauma types examined, as records
are predominantly focused on abuse and neglect. The current study examines exposure rates and association with emotional and
behavioral outcomes for 229 youth in 46 TFC agencies. The youth in this study had exceptionally high rates of trauma exposure
by foster parent report, similar to youth in traditional foster care, with nearly half of the sample exposed to four or more
types of traumatic events. A composite child abuse and neglect exposure variable was associated with child and adolescent
emotional and behavioral outcomes. Implications for services provided as part of TFC are discussed.
has utilized record review for assessing exposure, which presents limitations for the range of trauma types examined, as records
are predominantly focused on abuse and neglect. The current study examines exposure rates and association with emotional and
behavioral outcomes for 229 youth in 46 TFC agencies. The youth in this study had exceptionally high rates of trauma exposure
by foster parent report, similar to youth in traditional foster care, with nearly half of the sample exposed to four or more
types of traumatic events. A composite child abuse and neglect exposure variable was associated with child and adolescent
emotional and behavioral outcomes. Implications for services provided as part of TFC are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-011-9542-4
- Authors
- Shannon Dorsey, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 2815 Eastlake Avenue E., Seattle, WA 98107, USA
- Barbara J. Burns, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, UK
- Dannia G. Southerland, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, UK
- Julia Revillion Cox, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 2815 Eastlake Avenue E., Seattle, WA 98107, USA
- H. Ryan Wagner, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, UK
- Elizabeth M. Z. Farmer, Department of Health Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024