Expediting permanent placement from foster care systems: The role of family group decision-making

This research focused on the impact of Family Group Decision-Making on expediting youths' exits from the foster care system through family reunification, permanent placement with relatives, or adoption using a sample of youths (N=80,690) in foster care in the state of Texas. The results from a discrete-time survival analysis indicated that Family Group Conferences after removal increased the odds of achieving the desired outcome of placement with family (reunification with family or placement with relatives) compared to adoption. Results also indicated that, although Family Group Conferences after removal did not decrease time to permanency, neither did they significantly increase time to permanency. ►We examined the impact of Family Group Conferences on the foster care system. ►We used a discrete-time survival model. ►Family Group Conferences after removal increased odds of placement with family. ►Family Group Conferences after removal decreased odds of adoption. ►We found Family Group Conferences after removal did not impact time to permanency.