Mothers' welfare and work income and reunification with children in foster care

This article reports the results of a study of the factors associated with reunification of foster children with their biological mothers prior to welfare reform. Study questions focus on the importance of mothers' income from welfare and work, relative to other factors, to the speed with which their children return home. The sample of 378 is a criterion sample. The study design is longitudinal. Study data are administrative data. Event history analysis of data identified income (and other) variables that were associated with speed of reunification (p<.05). Children whose mothers lost income from welfare but gained income from work after their children's placements were reunified more slowly than all groups studied. Implications of findings are detailed. Role of study in investigators' 5-year investigation of this topic is noted.