Abstract
The analysis of foster care placements that have already ended allows us to study them from the perspective of their outcomes, while revealing the distinguishing elements that contribute to our understanding. The objectives of this study were: (a) to identify the rate of placement breakdown, understood as the unplanned termination of a foster placement; (b) to explore the variables associated with foster placement termination, and finally (c) to determine to what extent each variable can explain placement breakdown. This study was conducted on 1255 cases closed between 2008 and 2018 in Spain. With a quantitative approach, eight organizations provided information on 100% of their cases and 5 organizations followed a random selection procedure. Data were analyzed based on bi- and multivariate data analysis, with the construction of a logistic regression model. Findings suggest the relevance of variables such as placement type, the child’s age, length of stay in foster care, pathways before entering and within the protection system, type of abuse, characteristics of the foster family, and the relationship with the birth family. Breakdown occurs for reasons that are not only subject to behavioural issues or other characteristics of the child, but rather to a set of inter-related factors at different levels (family and system variables). These findings are intended to enhance professional practice and public policy-making.