For this comparative study of the effect of mediation on the time it takes to achieve a permanent placement for children in care, the author matched 315 cases in Texas that went through mediation to 315 that did not. She found that slightly more children whose cases were not mediated achieved permanency within 18 months than those whose cases were mediated (51.2% v 48.8%). This difference was not significant. Of those cases that reached permanency within 18 months, mediated cases took on average 66 days longer to achieve permanency than non-mediated cases. There were slight, but insignificant, differences in the type of permanency achieved. More mediated cases ended in relative placement (51.2% v 47.4%) and adoption (11% v 9.4%), while more non-mediated cases resulted in family reunification (41.3% v 37.3%). There was no significant relationship between level of parental engagement in mediation and achievement of permanency within 18 months. Further, there was no significant relationship between level of parental engagement in mediation and length of time to permanency.

Description of Study: Comparative study of the effect of mediation on permanency for children who entered into care in 43 Texas counties from 2002 to 2005.

Method: Propensity Score Matching was used to match mediated and non-mediated cases. Cases were controlled for age at entry into care, race/ethnicity and placement stability.  Used survey responses to gauge parental engagement in mediation.

Comparative: Yes

Comparison Groups: Cases that went through mediation and a matched set of cases that did not

Sample Size: 315 cases in each group from 43 counties in Texas

Variables Examined: Whether permanency was achieved within 18 months, overall length of time to permanency, Effect of parental engagement in mediation on achievement of permanency and time to permanency

Program Variables: Program in place 3 years before study period. Voluntary program with mediations provided by volunteers without cost to the parties.

Findings: Slightly more children whose cases were not mediated achieved permanency within 18 months than those whose cases were mediated (51.2% v 48.8%). This difference was not significant. Of those cases that reached permanency within 18 months, mediated cases took on average 66 days longer to achieve permanency than non-mediated cases. There were slight, but insignificant, differences in the type of permanency achieved. More mediated cases ended in relative placement (51.2% v 47.4%) and adoption (11% v 9.4%), while more non-mediated cases resulted in family reunification (41.3% v 37.3%). There was no significant relationship between level of parental engagement in mediation and achievement of permanency within 18 months. Further, there was no significant relationship between level of parental engagement in mediation and length of time to permanency.