Family placement breakdowns in Finland - the 1997 Finnish Birth Cohort study




Vuolukka, Kaisa; Vaskivuo, Laura; Ristikari, Tiina; Gissler, Mika; Juutinen, Aapo; Niemelä, Mika

PublisherRoutledge

2025

 Nordic Social Work Research

2156-857X

2156-8588

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2025.2580380

https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2025.2580380

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/505495953



We used the 1997 Finnish Birth Cohort to study the prevalence of long-term family foster care placement breakdowns. We examined whether and how often placement breakdowns occur among children who have been taken into care and placed in family foster care. We found that half of those who were placed in family foster care had at least one breakdown, 50.6% (n = 173). After family foster care breakdowns, in 43.0% of the breakdown episodes, the children were placed in another foster family; 39.4% of the children entered institutional care or family-style group homes; and the rest of the children entered another type of foster care or home. Our study also showed that placement breakdowns increased when out-of-home placement occurred among those older than 13 years and, most commonly, placement breakdown occurred approximately three years after family placement. In conclusion, it can be stated that placement breakdowns are common in family foster care. Actions ensuring stability and continuity in family foster care are called for.


This study Researcher MN was supported by the Strategic Research Council within the Research Council of Finland (Grant number 372260).


Last updated on 21/11/2025 11:19:00 AM