Re: Needing help with Research Dilemma

[MARY I BENEDICT <mbenedic@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Susan Zuravin and I have just completed a long-term follow up study of a 
cohort of foster children in Baltimore MD. Final report was sent to the 
Children's Bureau 12/31/96. We interviewed young adults who had been in foster care and compared outcomes with two 
different groups of young people who had not been in foster care.  In 
bivariate 
comparison to a general group of young people (matched on age, race and 
gender from the same environment), former foster children had achieved 
lower education, and were less likely to be employed, and had a higher 
risk of homelessness.  There were no 
differences in perception of mental or physical health, drug use, trouble 
with the law, etc.  Multivariate analysis indicated that it was not 
foster care that made the difference (except for the risk of 
homelessness) but that those young people 
who reported failing in school or being neglected in childhood were more 
likely not to achieve whether or not they were in foster care.  If you would 
like a copy of 
the executive summary of the study, please send me your name and address.
Mary I. Benedict, MSW, DrPH
Johns Hopkins University
School of Public Health
Dept. of Maternal and Child Health
624 N. Broadway
Balto. MD. 21205
mbenedic@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu