Parental empowerment and child behavioural problems during youth care involvement. Issue 4 (6th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Damen, Harm; Veerman, Jan W.; Vermulst, Ad A.; van Pagée, Rozemarijn; Nieuwhoff, Rozemarijn; Scholte, Ron H.J.
• Is Part Of: Child & family social work. Volume 24:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 476
• Publication Date: 2018-12-06
• Subjects: child behavioural problems -- family preservation -- family‐centredness -- foster care -- parental empowerment -- residential care; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; 362.7
• DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12626
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-7500

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine changes in parental empowerment and child behavioural problems during a period of youth care and how changes are related to the kind of services provided. We compared a preservation service that was family‐centred (FCS) with out‐of‐home services that were primarily child‐centred (CCS). The sample consisted of 621 families who were supported by FCS ( n = 434) or CCS ( n = 137). Information about parental empowerment and child behavioural problems was gathered at the start and end of youth care. Significant changes during treatment were identified with t tests and effect sizes. Significant improvements emerged on all empowerment scales for FCS but only on the behavioural control subscale for CCS. Moreover, significant improvements emerged on all child behavioural scales for both FCS as CCS. Cross‐lagged analysis showed that the kind of service, in favour of FCS, predicted parental empowerment but not child behavioural problems. Parental empowerment and child behavioural problems were negatively related. This paper discusses the potential for parental empowerment and FCS elements in CCS out‐of‐home care and the need for follow‐up research on this subject.