This study offers a longitudinal examination of a population-based cohort of infants born in 2001 who entered care during the first year of life and who were followed through multiple care episodes until age 18. Findings suggest that using single, first episode data overstates the proportion of children who successfully reunify and understates the proportion of children who are adopted, return to care, or live with guardians. This research also suggests that the experience of infants who enter care as neonates is different from that of infants who enter care after the first four weeks of life. The long-term outcome for neonates is much more likely to be adoption. Long-term foster care for all infants is an especially unlikely outcome.
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