Visits with fathers involved in the criminal justice system and behavioral outcomes among children in foster care

This study examined the relation between paternal criminal justice involvement (i.e., biological fathers incarcerated upon children’s entry into foster care) and emotional and behavioral outcomes among children in foster care; gender and racial differences were considered. Further, this study investigated whether in-person visits with fathers with and without criminal justice involvement related to children’s outcomes. The sample included 274 children (M = 10.18, SD = 2.36 years) who entered foster care in 2011–2014 and whose fathers were allowed to have contact with them. About 15.7% of children had fathers who were incarcerated in a jail or prison when they entered foster care. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling showed that paternal incarceration related to higher rates of externalizing behaviors but not internalizing symptoms. A significant interaction revealed the detrimental effects of incarceration were less pronounced among African American children. Finally, a significant interaction indicated that the association between paternal incarceration and externalizing behaviors was attenuated among children who had at least one visit with their fathers. These results support efforts to promote the psychological adjustment of children of color while also working to eliminate racial disparities in contact with the criminal justice system and promote health equity, along with encourage visits between fathers involved in the criminal justice system and children in foster care.