Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Qualitative Study Exploring The Perceptions Of Social Workers Concerning Independent Living Programs In Conjunction With Post-Secondary Education After New Jersey Foster Youth "Age-Out" Of The Foster Care System, Patrick L. Beatty

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the perceptions of New Jersey social workers regarding potential barriers that may exist with foster care youth maturity development, independent living programs emphasizing foster care alumni post-secondary education achievement, and social worker departmental training relating to their understanding of independent living programs.

The design of this qualitative study focused on New Jersey Division of Children & Family volunteer participants consisting of three district office manager interviews, and three social worker focus group discussions from specific geographic locations throughout New Jersey. The interview and focus group questions were developed after comprehensive research …

A Social Worker's Perspective On Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care, Rachael N. Morris

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore what social workers are doing to help youth age out of the foster care system. This research project gathered data in a qualitative study from social workers and how they help youth gain the needed skills to achieve self-sufficiency before they age out at age twenty-one. The researcher was able to obtain ten interviews from interviewees across the state of Minnesota. From the interviews, six themes had been established and categorized as the following: resources, the model or framework used in the work, supports, relationships youth have, approaches centered on youth strengths …

Child Welfare Professionals’ Attitudes And Beliefs About Child-Welfare Based Natural Mentoring For Older Youth In Foster Care, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Allison E. Thompson, Michelle Evans-Chase, Samira Ali

Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP

This qualitative study is the first to explore child welfare professionals’ attitudes and beliefs about implementing natural mentoring as a promising way to smooth the road to independence for older foster youth. The term, “natural mentor,” refers to a nonparental, caring adult whom a youth identifies in his/her existing social network (e.g., teachers, coaches, adult relatives). Five focus groups were conducted with 20 child welfare professionals from a Department of Human Services (DHS) located in a large urban city in the Northeast United States. This study used the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment) framework to explicate the organizational challenges …

Foster Youth & Social Support: The First Rct Of Independent Living Services, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Antonio R. Garcia, Minseop Kim, Mark E. Courtney

Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP

Objective: Conduct secondary data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of Massachusetts’ Adolescent Outreach Program for Youths in Intensive Foster Care (Outreach) for increasing social support (SS) among enrolled youth. Participants: 194 youth in intensive foster care under the guardianship of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families with a goal of independent living (IL) or long-term substitute care, and born between August 1985 and December 1990 (67% female, 66% White, 27% Hispanic) participated in the study between September 2004 and March 2009. Method: We hypothesized that Outreach compared to services as usual (SAU; control group) would increase participants’ SS and …