Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption

Although foster care is intended to be temporary, and policy explicitly requires permanency outcomes, many children experience lengthy stays and exit foster care without a permanent family. This study sought to identify which child and placement characteristics were important predictors of exit to three types of permanency outcomes: reunification, guardianship, and adoption. A sample of 3351 children who entered foster care in 2006 was observed for 30 to 42 months. Permanency outcomes were analyzed using competing risks survival analysis. Children exited foster care to different types of permanency at different rates and frequencies. Reunification occurred most quickly and frequently. Guardianship was second in terms of median duration but third in frequency. Adoption was the second most common exit but had the longest median duration. One in four children remained in foster care or exited without permanency. While patterns varied by type of permanency, three major categories of important predictors were identified: 1) demographic characteristics of age at entry and race, 2) clinical needs related to children's disabilities and mental health problems, and 3) continuity and connections represented by kin placements, sibling placements, early stability, and absence of runaway events. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.     

The University of Melbourne Social Studies Department

Abstract

This article seeks to explore, from a social justice perspective, as an issue of concern to social work, the manner in which the National Competition Policy has legitimated economic rationalism and its impact upon the community. It is argued under the influence of classical liberalism and economic rationalism, as reflected in the National Competition Policy, the value of individuals is being determined in terms of their contribution to the economy. In so doing notions of fairness, social justice and achieving community wellbeing through the promotion of equality, freedom and autonomy for individuals has been abandoned as governments increasingly allow market forces to structure social relations. Instrumental to the manner in which social relations are being restructured is the role of language which has enabled social justice concepts to be presented in terms of individualism.     

Dementia and Guardianship: Challenges in Social Work Practice

Decision-making within the context of dementia can be an uncertain and problematic process. This study critically examined challenges in social work practice in instances where a legal alternative decision-maker through guardianship proceedings was perceived as necessary. Theoretical perspectives from social constructionism underpinned the research. Five qualitative case studies were investigated. A thematic network analysis showed that the situations were constantly evolving and different players participated by bringing their own perspectives. In this process alliances were formed that reflected underlying dynamics of power. Contested issues included varied understandings of dementia and capacity, and differing constructions of risk, protection, and responsibility. The implications for practice are discussed with social work being well placed to make an important contribution through its traditional roles of negotiation, interpretation, and mediation between those who have discursive rights and those who do not. Ethical reasoning as a basis for decision-making was also of significance.     

论国家对未成年人监护的公权干预——以保障留守儿童的合法权益为视角

加强国家对未成年人监护的干预力度,是有效保障留守儿童合法权益的需要。在当前国际社会呈现未成年人监护公法化的发展趋势下,考察国家对未成年人监护公权干预的理论基础和社会基础,分析我国现行立法对未成年人监护公权干预之不足有重要意义。同时,可以借鉴法国、德国、日本、瑞士四国未成年人监护公权干预立法情况,提出区分亲权和监护、设立国家公权监护主体、设立未成年人监护监督机构等建议,以期完善我国未成年人监护的公权干预制度。     

父母离婚后未成年子女的监护立法研究

我国立法中关于离婚后未成年子女的利益保护不够，损害了未成年子女的利益。国外在离婚后监护权的确定、行使、变更等方面突出了保护未成年子女利益的问题，确立和实施了保护未成年子女最佳利益原则，这对我国有一定借鉴作用。建议完善我国离婚后未成年子女的监护立法，在确定未成年子女直接监护人时综合考虑各种因素，建立监护监督制度，使未成年子女的最佳利益能够得到保证。     

The Meanings of Trees: Forest and Identity for the Batek of Pahang,Malaysia

According to the Batek of Pahang, Peninsula Malaysia, if there were no people in the forest, the world would collapse. This position is tantamount to an indigenous concept of environmental guardianship. Guardianship is emergent in people's ongoing interactions with the forest. By focusing on the meanings of trees and forest, I will explore the Batek's view of their role in reproducing the forest. Their focus is not on the physical aspects of the forest but, rather, the relationship that renders that resource apparent. The disengagement of trees from everyday life—to the extent that they must be pushed from human society, specially protected in human-free parks and reserves and so on—has not yet begun for them. The problem is whether these concepts can coexist with official simplifications in resource management.     

农村留守儿童监护制度研究

农村留守儿童问题一直是近些年来的社会热点问题。本文通过对农村留守儿童监护制度中监护人的设立与监护能力、监护职责与责任、监护监督的缺陷分析,指出应当以促进、支持和复原有效监护为原则,通过修订法律法规来实现对农村留守儿童的有效监护。     

未成年人监护制度现行规定的不足与完善

未成年人监护制度是未成年人权益保障的核心制度。随着社会的发展,我国现行未成年人监护制度的规定显现出对监护人资格、义务规定的不适宜,监护诉讼程序不符合司法效益原则,对诉讼当事人有不当限制等不足。因此,应根据国情并借鉴大陆法系和英美法系的若干规定,对该制度在监护人资质及权利、加大公权力介入以及建立亲权制度和监护监督机制等方面予以充实和完善。     

监护概念与性质辨析

监护制度是一项古老的法律制度,具有十分旺盛的生命力。我国的监护制度采广义监护理念,它具体包括了父母对未成年子女的监护、父母以外的人对未成年子女的监护和对成年精神病人的监护人三种类型。从性质上看,监护是法律赋予特定主体享有监护权利和承担监护义务的一种特殊职责,它兼具私法和公法双重色彩。实行监护职权（权利）与责任（义务）的统一与一致,有利于维护被监护人的利益,有助于监护制度作用的充分发挥。     

Outcomes of a model care coordination program for adults with mental illness under guardianship/conservatorship

Adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder, who are under guardianship/conservatorship, may experience health care, social, financial, and housing concerns, which can be addressed by care coordination programs. In such programs, providers assist with communication across service sectors, assistance with monitoring of psychiatric care, and support with practical needs. Such programs are understudied in the context of guardianship/conservatorship. Through a review of electronic records for 217 consumers who were enrolled in a model program continuously for 3 years or more, we examined trends before and after enrollment in a model care coordination program for adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses under guardianship/conservatorship. We sought to describe the number of days and rates of hospitalization, emergency room visits, and arrests before and after receiving program services. Comparing utilization among consumers three years pre- to three years post-enrollment, we identified statistically significant reductions in hospitalizations and imprisonment, but no change in state hospitalizations. We also saw some (non-significant) reduction in emergency room visits. Findings provide preliminary evidence of effectiveness of the model program; future efforts could expand its reach to more adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses.