Impact of out-of-home care on children’s outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study using linked administrative data from Manitoba, Canada

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Marni Brownell
Kayla Frank
Nathan Nickel
Jennifer Enns
Lisa Flaten
Stephanie Sinclair
Elizabeth Decaire
Jennifer Chartrand
Scott Sinclair
Teresa Mayer
Chris Nash
Jamie Pfau
Anita Durksen
Colette Scatliff
Mikayla Hunter
Soomin Han
Stephaney Patrick
Hera Casidsid
Sana Amjad
Marlyn Bennett
Hygiea Casiano
James Houston
Laura Bowler
Therese Stukel

Abstract

Objective
To provide rigorous quantitative evidence about the impact of out-of-home care on children’s outcomes.


Approach
Guided by an Advisory Circle of First Nations (FN) Knowledge Keepers and conducted in partnership with FN researchers, we used linked administrative data to identify all Manitoba children served by Child Protection Services (CPS) at FN agencies (FNA) and other agencies (OA) (2007-2018). We compared health, education, and legal system outcomes of those in care (FNA n=10,856; OA n=8,468) to those with protection concerns but not in care (FNA n=12,896; OA n=14,394). Using instrumental variable analysis with CPS agency rate of out-of-home care as the instrument, outcomes between groups were compared using 2-stage multivariate probit regressions adjusted for child and family factors.


Results
Odds of teen pregnancy (FNA OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.40-9.77; OA 5.10 (1.83-14.25)), teen birth (FNA 3.23 (1.10-9.49); OA 5.06 (1.70-15.03)), and positive STI tests (FNA ns; OA 7.21 (3.63-14.32)) were higher and odds of vaccination at age 2 (FNA ns; OA 0.49 (0.29-0.80)) were lower for children in care than children not in care. Odds of being accused (FNA ns; OA 2.71 (1.27-5.75)), victim (FNA ns; OA 1.68 (1.10-2.56)), or charged with a crime (FNA ns; OA 2.68 (1.21-5.96)), and odds of being incarcerated (FNA 3.64 (1.95-6.80); OA 1.19 (1.19-8.04)) were higher for children in care.


Conclusions
Out-of-home care negatively affects children’s health, social and legal system outcomes. 


Implications
CPS agencies should work with FN leaders to develop and implement strategies to reduce the number of children taken into care.

Article Details

How to Cite
Brownell, M., Frank, K., Nickel, N., Enns, J., Flaten, L., Sinclair, S., Decaire, E., Chartrand, J., Sinclair, S., Mayer, T., Nash, C., Pfau, J., Durksen, A., Scatliff, C., Hunter, M., Han, S., Patrick, S., Casidsid, H., Amjad, S., Bennett, M., Casiano, H., Houston, J., Bowler, L. and Stukel, T. (2024) “Impact of out-of-home care on children’s outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study using linked administrative data from Manitoba, Canada”, International Journal of Population Data Science, 9(5). doi: 10.23889/ijpds.v9i5.2679.

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