Effects of Enhanced Legal Aid in Child Welfare: Evidence from a Randomized Trial of Mi Abogado

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Cooper, Ryan; Doyle, Joseph J.; Hojman, Andres
• 署名单位: University of Chicago; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); National Bureau of Economic Research; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20230947
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 2306-2342
• 关键词: foster-care; PERMANENCY OUTCOMES; REPRESENTATION; youth; RISK; intervention; maltreatment; partnerships; PREVALENCE; IMPACT

摘要

Children spend years in foster care, and bureaucratic hurdles can unnecessarily prolong their stays. The Mi Abogado program was introduced in Chile to enhance legal aid for foster children and accelerate family reunification. In a novel approach, the Chilean government randomized the introduction of the program for children living in institutions to evaluate effects on child well-being. Using registry data, we find the program significantly reduced the duration of foster care without increasing subsequent maltreatment and placements. The exposure also decreased criminal justice involvement and improved school attendance. Results suggest that strengthening foster care services can cost-effectively improve child well-being. (JEL I21, I31, J13, K36, O15, O17)