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Abstract: The Best Interest of the Child Questionnaire (BIC-Q) is an instrument to measure the quality of the childrearing environment. We used a sample of asylum-seeking children (N=79) in the Netherlands to determine the relationship between the quality of the childrearing environment and the child''s internalizing behavioural problems. In decisions as to whether asylum-seeking children may remain in the Netherlands or must return to their country of origin, those in favour of the child''s positive development are in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The aim of the present study is to determine the criterion-related validity of the BIC-Q using internalizing behavioural problems as criteria. In the case of good predictive validity, this instrument might be a suitable tool in judicial decision-making with respect to a possible change in an asylum-seeking child''s place of residence. We investigated the criterion-related validity of the BIC-Q using logistical regression analysis and an ROC-curve to determine the relation between the quality of the childrearing environment and the child''s internalizing behavioural problems. Logistic regression analysis showed that the current quality of the childrearing environment is negatively related to the risk of internalizing behavioural problems in children. The ROC shows that 81% of the children are correctly predicted whether they have internalizing behavioural problems or not. For seven conditions, the sum of the sensitivity and specificity was at a maximum (.75 and .71, respectively). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many adolescents who make the transition to adulthood experience problems after their departure from secure residential care. Research suggests that these young people are often in need of support after they have left secure care. Little is known about the experiences and perceptions of adolescents during and after this transition. The aim of this article is to assess these experiences for a group of 24 adolescents in the Netherlands that have left secure residential care. The results show, in line with previous studies, that many adolescents experience problems during their transition from secure care, especially with regard to finances, school and employment, and living arrangements. In contrast to other studies, a majority of the adolescents reports to have received support in the year following their departure. Relatively few adolescents move to independence after their departure, which suggests that many adolescents are not ready for making a true transition into adulthood yet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• This is a first review of factors underlying placement instability in residential care. • We found limited evidence of dynamic factors associated with placement instability. • There is a need for longitudinal studies with multiple informant perspectives. Placement instability in residential youth care is an important issue. Youth in residential care have the highest number of previous placements compared to youth in other types of out-of-home care (e.g., foster care), and the high number of previous placements can be experienced as traumatic events. Placement instability is associated with negative outcomes for youth, such as mental health problems. However, there is no review of the factors associated with placement instability in residential care. In this study, we reviewed research (qualitative and quantitative) on factors related to placement instability in residential youth care. A search in four databases (PsycINFO, ERIC, SocINDEX, and Medline) resulted in 10,299 hits. After selecting on the inclusion criteria, we included fifteen articles in our analysis. We identified several youth, family, decision-making, care, and, organizational factors associated with placement instability in residential care. In general, the number of studies focusing on placement instability is small. Most studies focused on static (i.e., unchangeable) youth factors, such as sex and age. We found some indications that dynamic (i.e., changeable) family, care, and organizational factors, such as poor parenting skills, low staff competence and turnover of professionals are positively associated with placement instability. It is striking that most of the included studies focused mainly on static youth factors. We need more knowledge about dynamic factors to reduce placement instability in residential youth care. Future research should focus on elements that might prevent placement instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multi-informant discrepancies (child, carer, guardian) were studied in foster care. • High average placement success is associated with low informants' discrepancies. • Discrepancy in child and fostering factors predicts discrepancy in success scores. • Low average placement success may co-exist with placement breakdown. This study examined multi-informant discrepancies (between child, carer, and guardian perspectives) regarding placement success of 39 foster placements, as well as possible factors associated with these discrepancies. We also examined whether these discrepancies in placement success at baseline measurement (T0) are related to placement breakdown at second measurement (T1). The results showed that when placements are rated with a high average placement success score (looking at child-carer and child-guardian dyads), the child and carer, as well as the child and guardian generally agree on the success of the foster placement, showing low discrepancy. In contrast, placements with a low average score on placement success show large discrepancies between the perspectives, which may also lead to breakdown. Results of the multilevel analyses showed that discrepancies regarding placement success were mainly associated with differences in perspectives regarding fostering factors (i.e., quality of the caregiving environment, child-carer and child-guardian relationship) and child factors (i.e., conduct problems, emotional problems). The results indicate that children and their carers or guardians disagree more on the success of the placement if they disagree on the quality of the caregiving environment, the child's conduct and emotional problems, and the quality of the child-carer and child-guardian relationship. The outcomes of our study might be especially helpful for guardians in shaping their guidance practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quality of relationship child–carer almost one-to-one relation with placement success. • Cultural similarity in foster placement; most important for child's perspective on placement success. • Child, carer, guardian: different views on factors contributing to placement success. This paper presents findings from the baseline measurement of a longitudinal Dutch study focusing on cultural matching, child and fostering factors associated with the success of foster placements of unaccompanied refugee children. We assessed the placement from the perspectives of the children, their foster carers and their guardians. The children (n = 39) and their carers (n = 37) were visited at their homes, where they completed several questionnaires (e.g. SDQ, BIC, SLE, RATS, AHIMSA and questionnaires measuring bio/demographic variables, placement success and characteristics of the placement, including cultural characteristics). The guardians (n = 37) were asked to complete a digital questionnaire. The success of the placement was analysed using logistic regression models. The quality of the relationship between child and foster carer(s) exhibited an almost one-to-one relationship with 'placement success', for both the child model and the foster carer model. This means that one could also investigate the quality of the relationship between the child and carer to determine placement success. The regression analyses showed that, for children, cultural similarity between a child and their carers was of great importance. However, for foster carers and guardians, cultural similarity was less related to placement success. In addition, a higher score on prosocial behaviour by the child (SDQ self-report) was associated with more positive outcomes regarding placement success (child model). For foster carers, children's externalizing behaviour (SDQ) was negatively correlated with the success of the placement (foster carer model). For guardians, a higher score on the quality of the caregiving environment (BIC-G) was associated with placement success (guardian model). Implications for research and practice are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unaccompanied child, carers, social workers in general satisfied with foster placement. • Cultural similarity in foster placement valued; similarity in language valued most. • Some children reported negative experiences but still rated placement as successful. • Several children did not feel at home in foster placement. • Less appreciation of cultural similarity by former unaccompanied children. Research shows that highly supportive living arrangements, such as foster care, can provide an environment that meets the needs of unaccompanied children (i.e. fewer internalizing problems, higher quality of the child-rearing environment). However, there is limited research into the experiences of these children in (cultural) foster care. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of former unaccompanied refugee children and unaccompanied refugee children, their carers and social workers with regard to the foster placement. This cross-sectional qualitative study combined semi-structured interviews with questionnaires. In general, participants were satisfied with the foster placement. However, some children also reported negative experiences during their foster placement or felt somewhat uncomfortable, but they still rated the placement as successful. Children and carers valued the cultural similarity of the foster placement. Former unaccompanied children appreciated cultural similarity less. Overall, participants valued similarity of language the most. Several children did not feel at home in their foster placement. In most foster families, the caregiving environment offered to children seemed adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]