Out-of-home care placement patterns of children within the Swedish child welfare system: Findings from group-based trajectory modelling

Abstract

Children and adolescents in out-of-home care (OHC) represent a diverse population influenced by various family and placement characteristics, which significantly impact their development and long-term outcomes. However, there is a dearth of research exploring OHC placement characteristics, essential for understanding and supporting this population effectively. This study aimed to identify subgroups within the OHC population that share similar patterns of OHC placements across age and to describe these subgroups' distinct family and placement characteristics. Group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) was applied to a total sample of Swedish children born 1990–1999 to identify subgroups with similar placement patterns. Six distinct trajectories of OHC placements were identified, revealing varying patterns of placement onset, duration, and type. Parental characteristics differed across trajectories, with a higher prevalence of disadvantaged factors among children entering care at younger ages. These findings underscore the importance of early intervention strategies and family-centred approaches for preventing OHC placements.