Foster Care and Attachment 1 Foster Care Placement Moves and Attachment Issues

The following explanatory study examined the relationship between the number of foster care placement moves and the level of attachment issues for children in state foster care. Quantitative data regarding the level of attachment issues was obtained through a survey concerning attachment-related behaviors which was completed by the current foster parents. Attachment scores derived from the survey were compared to those with 1 or less placement moves and those with more than 1 placement move. The children ranged in age from 1 to 18 years. They were randomly selected from foster children placed within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services ’ Southern Bluegrass Service Region. When comparing the relationship between the numbers of placement moves with the attachment score, it was hypothesized that the children with more than one placement move would have higher attachment scores. This would indicate that increased foster care placement moves are related to increased attachment issues. However, bivariate analysis revealed no significant differences between those with 0 to 1 placement moves and those with 2 or more placement moves. Since similar studies revealed a significant relationship between foster care placement moves and attachment issues, it is determined that the results of this study were likely biased by the utilized survey and sample selection