Abstract
Statement of Problem
In the 2007/2008 fiscal year there were at least 382 instances of abuse against California's 101,973 foster children while they were in the foster care system intended to protect them from abuse. This thesis explores the efficacy of the background screening completed on adults seeking to be licensed or employed in a foster care setting.
Sources of Data
The sources of data used for this thesis include that of the California Department of Social Services, California's Child Welfare Services Case Management System, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau.
Conclusions Reached
The current California background screening is as effective as any other state's at keeping foster children safe from abuse but it still allows for a maltreatment rate that is higher than the national standard. It could be enhanced by identifying the specific characteristics of perpetrators in the foster care setting and using that information to weight the variables that contribute to child abuse which are not currently screened out to determine which, if any, should be added to the screening process.