Examining the influence of caregiver ethnicity on youth placed in out of home care: Ethnicity matters – for some

The purpose of this study was to examine behavioral outcomes in an out of home placement depending on whether youth's ethnicity was congruent with the ethnicity of the caregiver (family teacher). It was hypothesized that African American children in transracial out of home placements would exhibit significantly more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems compared to either Caucasian children in transracial out of home placements, or African American or Caucasian children placed with the same race caregivers. Results provide support for hypotheses related to some youth externalizing behaviors, while hypotheses regarding youth internalizing behaviors were not supported. We discuss the need to consider the ethnicity congruence between out of home placement caregivers and youth. Additionally, the results of this study reflect the need for caregiver training in multicultural competence.