NCJ Number
133365
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 70 Issue: 6 Dated: (November/December 1991) Pages: 653-678
Date Published
1991
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This article reports on criteria used by protection workers in three suburban Chicago counties to determine placement for cocaine-exposed infants.
Abstract
Three workers in each of the three counties who had the knowledge and experience required for making placement decisions with cocaine-exposed infants were interviewed for 90 minutes. They were asked to recount each step in the investigation process from the initial assignment to the assessment and then the final decision. If workers could order their priorities or weight the importance of certain factors, these insights were included in the analysis. Based on the interviews, decision criteria were placed in nine categories: (1) infant symptomatology (medical and behavioral symptoms); (2) caregiver-infant interactions including touching, eye contact, and preparation for the infant's return home; (3) history of abuse or neglect; (4) criminal/mental health history; (5) substance abuse patterns; (6) caregiver's parenting knowledge and skills; (7) strength of family support systems; (8) stability of home and environment; and (9) agency linkage. This study acknowledges that it is exploratory and requires additional inquiry and refinement to substantiate its credibility and usefulness in child welfare practice. 15 references