Citation

Nelson KE. Child. Youth Serv. Rev. 1986; 8(1): 53-70.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0190-7409(86)90025-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Problems in placing older children in substitute families have existed since the advent of modern child placement programs. Examination of 144 cases from the 1888-1897 placement records of the Iowa Children's Home Society reveals two distinct patterns. Younger children with no siblings were placed in only one home where they were legally adopted and grew to maturity. Children ten and older experienced multiple replacements and were much more likely to run away (boys) or return to relatives (girls) before reaching maturity. The placement experiences of older boys and girls paralleled the general patterns of youth employment and control of adolescent girls of the time. The differing placement patterns of older and younger children foreshadowed the later distinction between fostering and adoption and the continuing problems in placing older children who maintain strong ties to biological families.