RESEARCH ON SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE Lewandowski, Pierce / EFFECT OF FCOHC Assessing the Effect of Family-Centered Out-of-Home Care on Reunification Outcomes

Objective: To assess the effect of Missouri’s Family-Centered Out-of-Home Care model on reunification, placement recidivism, and time in out-of-home care. Method: This study used a nonequivalent control group design. The sample included 374 families whose children were in foster care from 1994 to 1996 in the 11 pilot and 6 comparison counties. Results: Evaluative findings were mixed. Pilot county children spent somewhat fewer days in out-of-home care, whereas comparison counties reunified more children and experienced less placement recidi-vism. However, FCOHC was more successful with children who remained in care longer than 7 days. Conclusions: In spite of its rather limited results, the model shows promise of providing services that will decrease time in out-of-home care. State child welfare agencies have recently been implementing family-centered approaches to out-of-home care to improve permanency outcomes for chil-dren. Two of the key factors fueling this trend are the rise in the number and complexity of social concerns facing families and the increasing numbers of children entering out-of-home care. Family-centered approaches are being implemented in many states, although little is known about their effective