Infants placed in foster care prior to their first birthday: Differences in kin and nonkin placements.

Using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, this study examines differences between kinship and foster placements for infants placed in out-of-home care prior to their first birthday. The differences examined include developmental status at time of placement, differences in the home and neighborhood environments, and the duration of time in placement. Participants included 457 infants placed in either kinship or foster care and their caregivers. Findings suggest that infants placed with kin had fewer developmental concerns 2 to 6 months after the initial Child Protective Services investigation and spent significantly less time in placement. The quality of foster and kinship homes and neighborhoods also differed: Foster homes were generally of better quality and located in safer neighborhoods. Overall, for both kin and foster care, the data suggest that even after passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA, Public Law 105-89), infants remain in care for a long time: Approximately one third of infants are still in out-of-home care 3 years after the initial investigation.