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Full-Text Articles in Social Work
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome's Interaction With Foster Care: Exploring Challenges And Improving Outcomes, Kennedy E. Bradshaw
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome's Interaction With Foster Care: Exploring Challenges And Improving Outcomes, Kennedy E. Bradshaw
Senior Capstone Papers
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) diagnoses in the United States, especially in rural areas have skyrocketed in recent years in conjunction with the increase in opioid use disorders. Neonates born with this condition possess a plethora of needs. The literature indicates the effects of NAS on substance-exposed infants are shown to have negative physical, cognitive, behavioral, and educational effects throughout the life course. Children with a NAS diagnosis are more likely to be involved in the foster care system due to stigma and legal implications facing the biological mothers of this population. The proposed intervention setting is AGAPE, which employs social …
Sources And Types Of Social Supports And Their Association With Mental Health Symptoms And Life Satisfaction Among Young Adults With A History Of Out-Of-Home Care, Rhiannon Evans, Colleen C. Katz, Anthony Fulginiti, Heather N. Taussig
Sources And Types Of Social Supports And Their Association With Mental Health Symptoms And Life Satisfaction Among Young Adults With A History Of Out-Of-Home Care, Rhiannon Evans, Colleen C. Katz, Anthony Fulginiti, Heather N. Taussig
Graduate School of Social Work: Faculty Scholarship
Young adults with a history of out-of-home care report poorer mental health and life satisfaction compared to non-care-experienced peers. Social support is a known protective factor for mental health. There is limited evidence, however, on the relationship between sources (e.g., family members) and types (e.g., information) of social support and mental health symptoms and life satisfaction in this population. Reporting cross-sectional survey data from 215 young adults aged 18–22 years with a history of out-of-home care, the current study conducted descriptive, bivariate, and linear regression analysis to examine the different sources and types of support young adults receive and their …
Social Support Experiences Of Stably Housed Emancipated Foster Youth, Camron L. Whitacre
Social Support Experiences Of Stably Housed Emancipated Foster Youth, Camron L. Whitacre
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Youth emancipating from foster care are at increased risk of housing instability and homelessness and have reduced access to needed social supports to aid in the difficult transition to independent living. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived formal social support experiences of stably housed emancipated foster youth. Purposive sampling techniques and inclusion criteria guided the recruitment of nine study participants from a state-administered postemancipation services program to take part in semistructured interviews. A conceptual framework, including social convoy and attachment theories, informed inquiry, and interpretation of findings. Participant lived experiences illuminated the importance of …
Toward A Defined Role For Occupational Therapy In Foster Care Transition Programming, Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth, Molly Hahn-Floyd, Heather J. Williamson, Catherine Lockmiller
Toward A Defined Role For Occupational Therapy In Foster Care Transition Programming, Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth, Molly Hahn-Floyd, Heather J. Williamson, Catherine Lockmiller
The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
Youth who age out of the foster care system and transition to adulthood face challenges that are exacerbated by a history of trauma, severed relationships, and instability of living and educational placements. A review of the literature demonstrates poor outcomes overall for this population. Occupational therapists are positioned to meet the needs that arise during this time; however, a review of emerging roles for occupational therapists is necessary to describe how occupational therapists can best fulfill gaps in current programming. Through a review of the literature and a preliminary mixed-methods study, this paper establishes a direction for the inclusion of …
A Pilot Study: Baseline Educational Achievements Of Children Raised By Grandparents In A Kinship Care Program, Mary Lou Lacomb-Davis, Phd, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc, Michael Patton, Msw, Jean Pawl, Phd, Rn, Ocn, Cne
A Pilot Study: Baseline Educational Achievements Of Children Raised By Grandparents In A Kinship Care Program, Mary Lou Lacomb-Davis, Phd, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc, Michael Patton, Msw, Jean Pawl, Phd, Rn, Ocn, Cne
GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy
This pilot study reports the baseline data of a prospective longitudinal study examining the educational achievements of grandchildren being raised by grandparents in parent absent homes. The baseline data includes 117 grandchildren in grades K-12 in two school districts in a southeastern state. School records reporting 2,230 grades were examined for grade point average (GPA) and attendance for K-12 and conduct in grades K-5. The majority of the grandchildren achieved A/B averages. There were no significant differences between gender, pre-care experiences, placement by welfare agencies or paternal involvement across years of schooling. GPAs were lower in the grandchildren who had …
Relationships Between Delinquency And Substance Use Among Adolescents Emancipating From Foster Care, Svetlana Shpiegel, Jamey J. Lister, Richard Isralowitz
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. …
The Impact Of Foster Care On Depression: An Examination Of Placement Type And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Children And Adolescents, Kisha Cummings
The Impact Of Foster Care On Depression: An Examination Of Placement Type And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Children And Adolescents, Kisha Cummings
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Background: Children and adolescents in foster care with a history of complex trauma such as neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse have a greater odds of being clinically diagnosed with depression in adulthood compared to children and adolescents without such a history. The current study examines the prevalence of depression in a national sample of children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years. This study asks whether a) foster care is associated with a greater prevalence of depression among children and adolescents in foster care compared to children and adolescents not in foster care; b) there is an association between …
Child Sexual Abuse And The Impact Of Rurality On Foster Care Outcomes: An Exploratory Analysis, Austin G. Griffiths, April L. Murphy, Whitney Harper
Child Sexual Abuse And The Impact Of Rurality On Foster Care Outcomes: An Exploratory Analysis, Austin G. Griffiths, April L. Murphy, Whitney Harper
Social Work Faculty Publications
Given the cost of long-term foster care placement in both human and economic terms, few studies have specifically explored if any factors help to predict why this vulnerable population spends significantly more time in foster care. The overarching goal of this exploratory study was to use binary logistic regression to investigate whether any child demographic or environmental characteristics predicted the discharge of a child placed in Kentucky's foster care system for child sexual abuse. Results indicated that children in the most rural areas of the state were over 10 times more likely to be discharged from foster care during the …
Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care: The Invisible Public Health Care Crisis Emergent Findings And Implications For Policy And Practice, Angelique G. Day
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.
Improving Organizational Practices: Learning From Direct Care Staff And Team Leads, Abigail Helget
Improving Organizational Practices: Learning From Direct Care Staff And Team Leads, Abigail Helget
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
The purpose in completing this needs assessment was to pinpoint inconsistencies or unclear aspects of the direct care provided to clients served by H.S.I. staff. This understanding can then assist H.S.I. in providing the necessary support for direct care staff and also allow for H.S.I to provide more adequate support for their clients. All information gathered from the focus groups will be disseminated to support departments and Team Leads through a written report. Based upon these results H.S.I. may choose to implement new or revised trainings, conduct meetings or enact companywide policies.
Future Orientation Of Adolescents In Foster Care: Relationship To Trauma, Mental Health, And Hiv Risk Behaviors, Peter Cabrera, Wendy Auslander, Michael Polgar
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 …