Supporting placement stability for children in out-of-home care

Tuesday 29 July 2025 12:00pm-1:00pm AEST , online via MS Teams

Hosted by Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR)

Details

Child development is positively associated with placement stability for children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC). Placement stability is associated with better immediate and long-term outcomes during and after children leave care. Children who are removed from their parents’ care and then experience multiple placement changes during their OOHC journey are more likely to experience distrust, behavioural difficulties, a lack of securely attached relationships, physical and mental health challenges and academic difficulties. While the number of placement moves is only one part of defining stability, it is one that is particularly relevant for caseworkers and managers making decisions about implementing interventions for children in OOHC.

In this FACSIAR Lunch and Learn webinar, Dr Nafisa Asif, FACSIAR Senior Researcher and Dr Fred Wulczyn, Director for the Center for State-Child Welfare Data USA, will present findings from the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS). The analysis looks at the impact of placement stability on children and their development and wellbeing and factors that can enhance the stability of placements. They will be joined by members of the Department of Communities and Justice Placement Stability Project team who will present on practices to encourage placement stability, decrease negative placement changes and enhance carer support and satisfaction.

The webinar will be chaired by Jessica Stewart, Executive Director, FACSIAR, Department of Communities and Justice.

Join us to learn more about:

Supporting placement stability for children in out of home care

Presentations from:

Dr Nafisa Asif – Senior Researcher, FACSIAR, DCJ
Dr Fred Wulczyn – Director, Center for State Child Welfare Data, USA
DCJ representatives from the DCJ Child and Family Placement Stability Project

Questions or comments?

Contact: ResearchPartnerships@dcj.nsw.gov.au