TY - JOUR PY - 2011// TI - The Effects of Alcohol Policies in Reducing Entry Rates and Time Spent in Foster Care JO - NBER working papers series A1 - Markowitz, Sara A1 - Cuellar, Alison Evans A1 - Conrad, Ryan M. A1 - Grossman, Michelle G. SP - w16915 EP - w16915 VL - 2011 IS - online N2 - The purpose of this paper is to empirically estimate the propensity for alcohol-related policies to influence rates of entry into foster care and the length of time spent in foster care. Alcohol consumption is believed to be major contributing factor to child maltreatment, associated with an increased likelihood of abuse and longer durations once in foster care. We analyze a panel of state-level foster care entry rates over time, followed by a duration analysis of individual-level cases. The alcohol regulations of interest include beer, wine, and liquor taxes and prices, and a measure of alcohol availability. Overall, these alcohol control policies appear to have limited power to alter foster care entry rates and duration once in care. We find that higher alcohol taxes and prices are not effective in reducing foster care entry rates, however, once in foster care, the duration of stay may be influenced with higher taxes, particularly when the entry was a result of an alcohol abusing parent.

LA - SN - 0898-2937 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -