Social Work Commons^™

Development, Feasibility, And Piloting Of A Novel Natural Mentoring Intervention For Older Youth In Foster Care, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Allison E. Thompson

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

Natural Mentoring Among Older Youth In And Aging Out Of Foster Care: A Systematic Review, Allison E. Thompson, Johanna K.P. Greeson

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

It's Good To Know That You Got Somebody That's Not Going Anywhere: Attitudes And Beliefs Of Older Youth In Foster Care About Child Welfare-Based Natural Mentoring, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Allison E. Thompson, Samira Ali, Rebecca Stern Wenger

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

This exploratory study is the first to investigate the attitudes and beliefs of older adolescents in foster care toward the implementation of a child welfare-based natural mentoring intervention designed to promote enduring, growth-fostering relationships between youth at risk of emancipation and caring, supportive nonparental adults from within the youth's existing social network. Six focus groups were conducted with 17 older youth in foster care attending a specialized charter high school for young people in out-of-home care in a large, urban city in the Northeast United States. Focus group data were transcribed and analyzed using a conventional content analysis approach. The …

Development & Maintenance Of Social Support Among Aged Out Foster Youth Who Received Independent Living Services: Results From The Multi-Site Evaluation Of Foster Youth Programs, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Antonio R. Garcia, Minseop Kim, Allison E. Thompson, Mark E. Courtney

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

This study uses secondary data from the Multi-Site Evaluation of Foster Youth Programs, a randomized controlled trial of four independent living programs for youth in foster care. The subject of this investigation is the Life Skills Training Program (LST) of Los Angeles County, CA.We had three interrelated aims: (1) Evaluate the effectiveness of the LST program as compared to services as usual on the change in social support over time; (2) Examine the differences over time in social support by race and ethnicity among LST participants; and (3) Investigate the explanatory value of prosocial activities, educational involvement, current living arrangement, …

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 …

Foster Youth & The Transition To Adulthood: The Theoretical & Conceptual Basis For Natural Mentoring, Johanna K.P. Greeson

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

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is considered a significant developmental stage in a young person’s growth. Most youth receive family support to help them weather the difficulties associated with this stage. When foster youth age out of the child welfare system, they confront the challenges associated with this developmental stage and are at risk of having to transition without family support. This article applies the life course perspective to describe the theoretical and contextual foundation that explains the hardships foster youth experience when they emancipate from the U.S. child welfare system. Next, the theoretical basis for natural mentoring among …

"What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger": Survivalist Self-Reliance As Resilience And Risk Among Young Adults Aging Out Of Foster Care, Julia Pryce

Julia Pryce

“She Holds My Hand”: The Experiences Of Foster Youth With Their Natural Mentors, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Natasha K. Bowen

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

The vulnerability and adversity that youth frequently experience following aging out of foster care are well-documented. However, much less is known about the positive experiences and healthy relationships that may buffer these youth from the negative outcomes following emancipation. Utilizing a strengths perspective, this exploratory study gathered qualitative data about the experiences of older foster youth with their natural mentors. Although other at-risk and marginalized groups are represented in the natural mentoring literature, representation of female foster youth of color is scarce. Seven female foster youth of color were individually interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. Data were analyzed using the …