Developmental outcomes across foster care, adoption, and child welfare services: a mini review.

ABSTRACT: Children entering foster care (FC), adoption, or child welfare services (CWS) frequently experience early adversity, placing them at increased risk across multiple developmental domains. A structured narrative search (2020-October 2025) identified 61 eligible studies, including 22 high-quality longitudinal, administrative, and review-based 'core' studies. Findings were synthesised across five predefined domains to provide comparative evidence on placement stability, psychological and behavioural health, educational attainment, physical and developmental health, and social relationships. Findings indicate that FC is most consistently associated with instability and cumulative disadvantage, including high rates of mental health problems, disrupted education, unmet health needs, and relationa

SUBMITTER: Solerdelcoll M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12894384 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature