Social Work Commons^™

Relational Connections For Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care: A Policy Content Analysis, Heather Miller

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Social work professionals and policymakers are faced with the dilemma of older youth exiting foster care each year with poor outcomes, lacking resources and supports that make successful transitions a challenge. Research suggests that youth who have a supportive relationship with a consistent and trusted adult to help navigate the transition to adulthood supports a youth’s successful transition from care. The Federal John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, initially birthed from the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and revised through the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018, provides states with funding and guidance …

Understanding The Barriers Of Lgbtq Youth Aging Out Of The Foster Care System, Quadasha Mcilwaine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, there have been significant barriers experienced by youths aging out of the foster care system. A new area of focus highlights youths that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ). In this study, the opinions of LGBTQ youths who have aged out of the foster care system in North Carolina were explored and the barriers these youths may encounter as they transition into adulthood were illuminated. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory is the framework that was used to guide this study. A basic qualitative approach was used with semistructured interviews of 10 LGBTQ aged-out youths in North Carolina. …

Defining Success: Reconsidering A Successful Transition Into Adulthood For Ethnic Minority Former Foster Youth, Benjamin T. Bencomo

Doctor of Social Work Banded Dissertations

The following banded dissertation is comprised of three separate products that together provide a complete exploration of the dominant markers of success for former foster youth as they transition into adulthood. This banded dissertation reveals how those markers may not be adequate when applied to ethnically diverse members of this vulnerable population. The first product is a conceptual manuscript that provides an overall theoretical and contextual orientation from which to examine these concerns, namely a sociocultural and situational framework. The second product details findings from a thematic analysis of eight semi-structured individual interviews with youth who had recently emancipated from …

Former Foster Youth Perspectives On Strengths And Needed Services Of The Foster Care System, Cynthia Huizar, Judy Andrea Lawrence

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examined former foster youth’s perceptions of the skills and services they received while they were in the foster care system. More specifically the efficacy of these services, and what services and skills they believed would have been helpful to assist them in their transition into independent living. A qualitative design was used, and semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with ten former foster youth who aged out of foster care at age eighteen through twenty-one. Two males and eight females from diverse backgrounds participated in this study. Participants were recruited through availability and snowball sampling at community …

Program Evaluation Of A Transitional Age Youth Program : A Project Based Upon An Investigation At Servicenet, Northampton, Massachusetts, Andrea Carnegie Chester

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was designed to survey participants of ServiceNet’s Transitional Age Youth (TAY) program to solicit feedback regarding program effectiveness in meeting their needs. Surveys were designed with ServiceNet staff to solicit participant perspectives on the importance of program goals, and satisfaction with program services in meeting those goals. Surveys included quantitative and qualitative questions, and were distributed to all active TAY program participants. Respondents placed the greatest emphasis on TAY program goals regarding living independently and housing. Subjects were somewhat less satisfied with program services geared towards employment services. Overall, subjects were very positive about TAY staff, particularly regarding …

Foster Youth Transitioning To Adulthood, Jaclyn Jones

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe ways foster care caseworkers help foster youth transition to adulthood successfully. Data was collected using qualitative interviews, with four professionals who have experience with foster youth aging out of the foster care system. A number of themes emerged from this data, including: the need to start harm reduction services early, the importance of services in general, the need for permanent connections, and the importance of relationships between foster youth and social workers. Findings suggest a lack of support for foster youth aging out of the system, and that the support …

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

Psychological Empowerment And The Pursuit Of Social Change: Outcomes Of Foster Youth Engagement, Bradley Forenza

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Youth aging out of foster care are assumed to embody a disempowered group, for whom civic engagement opportunities are rare. Utilizing a targeted initiative, this study explores individual- and community-level outcomes derived from foster youth civic engagement. Data were collected via: (a) interview and survey research with foster youth advisory board leaders; (b) interview and survey research with civic youth workers; and, (c) non-participant observation of five foster youth advisory board meetings. Directed content analysis revealed three emergent themes, which transcended the data inductively (Opportunity through Access; Positive Conceptions of New Jersey's Department of Children and Families; and, Participatory Competence). …

Relationships Between Delinquency And Substance Use Among Adolescents Emancipating From Foster Care, Svetlana Shpiegel, Jamey J. Lister, Richard Isralowitz

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Adolescents emancipating from foster care exhibit high rates of both delinquency and substance use, although it is less clear how these behaviors relate to one another. We aimed to examine the reciprocal relationships between these risk behaviors while accounting for relevant child welfare factors. We use data from the Multi-Site Evaluation of Foster Youth Programs to explore longitudinal associations between delinquent behaviors and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana) among youths ages 17 and 18 (N = 429). Delinquency at age 17 was a positive predictor of substance use at age 18, after controlling for baseline use of substances. …

A Critical Analysis Of Foster Youth Advisory Boards In The United States, Bradley Forenza, Robin G. Happonen

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: The enactment of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act brought welcome attention to young people aging out of foster care, and sought to include them in both case planning and policy dialog. Foster Youth Advisory Boards help to promote such inclusion, though the implementation of those boards has not been formally analyzed. Objective: This critical analysis of foster youth advisory boards in the United States answers the following questions: (1) What/where are each of the Youth Advisory Boards in the United States? (2) How is each board implemented? (3) How would a young person aging out of …

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, …

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 …

The Detrimental Effects Of Aging Out Of Foster Care And Knoxville's Representativeness Of Appropriate Services, Samantha Leanne Stout

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

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 …

Aging Out Of Foster Care: A Review Of Best Practices Towards Prevention And Amelioration, Katherine Lukov Stock

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

"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 …

How Does Michigan Fare In The Fight To Improve Outcomes For Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care? A Response From The State And One Of Its Communities, Angelique Day, Deboraha Watson

Social Work Faculty Publications

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one-half-million children are in foster care at any given time, some of whom are over the age of 16. Every year, typically at the age of 18, approximately 20,000 of these children will age out of the foster care system. Many of these youths fi nd themselves making an abrupt transition to adulthood and independence with little or no assistance from their caregivers, biological families, or the child welfare system. Unlike their same-age peers in the general population, they have no safety net if they fail to succeed at navigating …