Running Away from Out-of-Home Care: A Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

Previous research suggests that the likelihood of runaway episodes among children in out-of-home care varies across different communities/regions. However, the potential regional variation has rarely been reflected in attempts to understand runaway episodes in out-of-home care systems. The current study examines the effects of child characteristics, family characteristics and child welfare system-related characteristics on the likelihood of runaway episodes among children in out-of-home care, while accounting for county-level variations in the risk of runaway behaviours. The authors employed multi-level analyses using data on children aged 12-17 from the 2009 AFCARS database. Results demonstrate that the likelihood of runaway episodes varied across counties. Accounting for county variation, children's ages, gender, diagnosed clinical conditions, family structures, number of removals, number of placements, removal manner, and case plan goals significantly predicted runaway status. Implications are discussed.