Predicting the Time Children Spend in State Custody

This exploratory study identifies factors that predict the time children spend in state custody. We follow a sample of 700 children from 28 urban and rural counties for a period of up to 3 years from the first day the children enter custody in Tennessee. We use event‐history analysis to examine the effects of child, family, and service characteristics on the probability of exiting state custody. Children with mental health problems, minority children, children with disabilities, sexually abused children, children in custody for dependency and neglect, and children from rural communities all have lower probabilities of exiting custody.