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Foster youth are at increased risk of entering the justice system, particularly as they age out of foster care. The high prevalence of crime among foster youth has concerned practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. Given the public attention to address the disproportionate rates of juvenile justice system involvement among young people in foster care, this study focuses on the association of the new federal legislation for extending foster care to age 21 with foster youth's juvenile justice system involvement. Drawing from 2006 to 2016 California state child welfare administrative data on individuals in care between their 16th and 18th birthdays (N = 69,140), this study (1) examines whether the extended care policy is associated with reduced juvenile justice system involvement and (2) compares juvenile justice system involvement between 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds during the periods before and after California implemented the extended care policy. The results show that youth approaching the age of majority in foster care were more likely to avoid juvenile justice system involvement after the state implemented the policy controlling for the general declining trend in delinquency petitions within the state, and that this was true for both age cohorts. These findings have national implications because in most states being transferred from the child welfare system to the juvenile justice system before reaching age 18 can result in later ineligibility for extended care available through Title IV-E benefits. Further implications and recommendations for professionals, researchers, and policymakers are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attachment relationships between 76 young foster children and their foster mothers were examined with the purpose of understanding how maternal sensitivity, adoption status, and foster mother experience contribute to relationship quality. Demographic variables were also included in the analyses. Attachment quality was assessed through home observations. More than half of the participating dyads constructed secure attachments. Maternal Sensitivity and foster mothers with little prior experience predicted higher scores on attachment quality. Additionally, variables associated with adoption status and full-time employment predicted maternal sensitivity. The results are interpreted and limitations of the study are discussed within the context of recent foster care reform policies and applications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]