A new study co-authored by Rick Barth and PhD students Meng-Hsuan Yu and Haelim Lee examines adolescents’ return to foster care after reunification, highlighting the importance of tailored behavioral health and family support.
Rick Barth and PhD students Meng-Hsuan Yu and Haelim Lee co-authored a new article in Child Abuse & Neglect, "Child maltreatment and reentry of adolescents following reunification in the USA", examining why adolescents return to foster care after reunifying with their families. Analyzing national data on 16,261 adolescents, the researchers found that 87% did not reenter foster care. Among those who returned, more than one-third had no new maltreatment report, suggesting that unmet behavioral health and family support needs may play an important role. The findings highlight the importance of stability and tailored support for adolescents and families after reunification.