The relationship of needs assessed at entry into out-of-home care to children and youth’s later emotional and behavioral problems in care

Abstract Screening children who are entering out-of-home care is widely implemented but not thoroughly studied. This study examines whether emotional and behavioral needs identified by an Integrated Assessment (IA) at entry predict needs and services while in care. Data from the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) measure completed in the IA were combined with data from a point-in-time study of the well-being of children in out-of-home care. Logistic regression analyses found that having a need identified at entry predicted having a similar need and receiving mental health services during out-of-home care (p