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

Legal And Relational Permanence In Older Foster Care Youths, Allison Thompson, Johanna Greeson

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

Permanency may be conceptualized as two separate but related dimensions. It is ideal, but not always possible, for youth to attain both.

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, …

Aging Out Of Foster Care, Johanna K.P. Greeson, Allison E. Thompson

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

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a significant developmental stage. When foster youth age out of the child welfare system, they are at risk of having to transition without family support. This chapter applies the life course perspective to describe the theoretical and contextual foundation that explains the hardships foster youth experience when emancipated from the US child welfare system. Next, the theoretical basis for natural mentoring among foster youth is explored using the resiliency perspective to frame the discussion. Then, current research on natural mentoring among foster youth is reviewed. Implications are drawn for US child welfare practice, …

Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care: The Invisible Public Health Care Crisis Emergent Findings And Implications For Policy And Practice, Angelique G. Day

Angelique G Day

The purpose of this paper is to review related literature on foster care transitions and identify the implications for practice. Findings indicate that young people aging out of foster care face significant barriers that impede their ability to transition successfully to adulthood. This population is growing, and the collective negative social outcomes constitute a serious public health care crisis that needs to be addressed.

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 …

Renewal And Risk: The Dual Experience Of Young Motherhood And Aging Out Of The Child Welfare System, Julia Pryce

Julia Pryce

One Adult Who Is Crazy About You: Can Natural Mentoring Relationships Increase Assets Among Young Adults With And Without Foster Care Experience?, Johanna K.P. Greeson, C. Lynn Usher, Michal Grinstein-Weiss

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

During emerging adulthood, most youth receive family support to help them weather the difficulties associated with transitioning to independence. When foster youth emancipate, they confront the challenges associated with emerging adulthood, and are at risk of having to transition without family support. Many are in danger of failing to meet minimal levels of self-sufficiency. A caring adult who offers social support is normative for adolescent development and protective for youth across many risk conditions. Natural mentoring can cultivate such relationships. This study examines the association between natural mentor relationship characteristics, and material hardship and asset-related outcomes during the emerging adulthood …

Future Orientation Of Adolescents In Foster Care: Relationship To Trauma, Mental Health, And Hiv Risk Behaviors, Peter Cabrera, Wendy Auslander, Michael Polgar

Elián P. Cabrera-Nguyen

Future orientation has been found to protect against risk behaviors in adolescents from diverse backgrounds. However, no studies have specifically examined future orientation as a potential protective factor against HIV risk behaviors in foster care adolescents. In this study, 343 foster care adolescents were interviewed about their future orientation, mental health, trauma histories, and cognitions related to HIV risk behaviors. Results indicated variability in future orientation, but there were no significant differences by race, gender, and age. Future orientation was significantly associated with mental health, trauma, HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, behavioral intentions, and number of sexual intercourse partners. Furthermore, externalizing behaviors …

"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 …