Leopoldo Ulloa
Professor
Fairchild
Psychology
194
April
16, 2009
The Social Effects of Young
Adults Transitioning from Foster Care to Independent Status
I. Overview- This
research paper will analyze the social effects of the painful transition foster
care children go through once they reach the legal age to become independent
individuals. However, some of these young adults do not have the proper tools,
education, friends, family, mentors, or health to survive independently. First,
there are be a discussion on the current situation of the foster care system,
followed by an analysis of studies performed by psychologists who examined the
effects of the transitional period: lack of preparation for the real world,
educational outcomes, mental health, and their vulnerability to violence,
drugs, alcohol, and homelessness. This literary review will conclude with
multiple suggestions on how to continually improve the foster care system in
order to provide the best opportunities possible for young adults who did not
have any alternatives in living their childhood.
II. Background– This
section discusses the history of the foster care system, current situations,
and needs of the young adults who transition from the foster care system to
independence.
A. Pelton,
Leroy H.; "A
History of Child Protection in
1. History of Foster Care
system from the Progressive Era to contemporary times.
2. Author suggests that the
main problem with the current system is that it remains overburdened, and that
this problem can be addressed by increasing resources to it.
a. No need to redesign or restructure but to give more
power to welfare system/parents
b. Pelton
suggests the opposite: remove the powers of the parents in order to make them
more cautious of how they treat their children
B. Vacca,
James S.; Children and Youth Services Review, Vol
30(5), May 2008. pp. 485-492.
1. The research shows that
there are presently about a half million children in foster care, and
approximately 20,000 of these youths will turn eighteen years of age, be
classified as adults and emancipate or "age out" of the foster care
system each year.
2. The capacity to graduate from high school is
often difficult and challenging for foster children without any continuity in
their high school educational experience. These children will attend several
high schools before they graduate, and if they move during the school year,
classes will be frequently interrupted by changes
3. This article addresses and answers the following
two questions: (1) "Why do foster children have difficulty after they
leave high school?" and (2) "What can be done to help foster children
make a more successful transition to an independent life?
C. Hollander, Scott; Budd,
Jonathan; Petulla, William A.; Staley, Jennifer A.;
Family Court Review, Vol 45(3), Jul 2007. pp.
444-454.
1. 20,000 foster youth leave
system without the basic necessities of housing, education, employment, and
health care.
2. Article outlines the problems facing foster youth
as they leave care and to detail, as a case study, the steps taken by KidsVoice, a Pittsburgh legal services organization
representing almost 5,000 dependent children each year, to help youth in foster
and substitute care transition more successfully to adulthood and independent
living.
III. Cause and Effects of
Inefficient Transitional System
A. Preparation Effectiveness
Clare,
Glenda; Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social
Sciences,
Vol 67(9-A), 2007. pp. 3374.
1.
This study investigates whether the perception of barriers and
coping-efficacy were related to the acquisition of life skills self-efficacy as
a precursor for the transition to adulthood of older youth in foster care.
2.
The population for this study consisted of youth in foster care (aged
18 and over) transitioning to adulthood. Many older youth maintaining
relationships with foster care officials are enrolled in the Chafee Education
and Training Vouchers Program (ETV). A sample of 160 older youth who either
viewed the Foster Club website or who were recruited by a foster care program
participated in this study. Youth completed three instruments: The Ansell-Casey
Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA), Short Form; the Perception of Barriers Scale
(POB) and the Coping with Barriers Scale (CWB). The following research
questions were examined: (1) Is there a relationship
between the perception of barriers and ACLSA scores of older youth in care
transitioning to adulthood? (2) Is there a relationship between levels of
coping-efficacy and ACLSA scores of in care transitioning to adulthood? and (3)
Are relationships between the scores on the dependent variable (ACLSA) and
independent variables (perception of barriers and coping-efficacy) different
based on age, gender and time in foster care?
3.
The results generated in this study were consistent with those
previously found in the literature. Relationships were found between the
perception of barriers, coping efficacy and ACLSA scores. Participating youth
who perceived no or fewer barriers completed high school and were enrolled in
the Chafee Education Training and Vouchers Program (ETV). They are seemingly
successful in the transition process. They have higher life skills
self-efficacy and coping-efficacy, resulting in more confidence in their
ability to over come barriers when they are encountered. The relationships
between the perception of barriers, coping efficacy and ACLSA scores were not
significantly impacted by age, gender and time in foster care placement of
participating youth.
B. Reconnection with
biological family
Collins,
Mary Elizabeth; Paris, Ruth; Ward, Rolanda L.;
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol
78(1),
Jan 2008. pp. 54-62.
1. Research on the experiences of youth leaving
foster care as they enter adulthood has noted that they often reconnect, and
sometimes live with, members of their family of origin. This is often thought
to be a curious finding because at some earlier point, the families were deemed
unsafe, requiring removal of the child to foster care.
2. Author reviews what is known about the extent to
which young adults reunite with their families after they leave foster care and
brings the topic to the attention of social workers.
C. Background
Characteristics v. Case Outcome
Decisions
Lu, Yuhwa Eva; Landsverk, John;
Ellis-Macleod, Elissa; Newton, Rae; Ganger, William;
Johnson,
Ivory; Children and Youth
Services Review, Vol 26(5), May 2004. pp. 447-461.
1. This study reviews the records of 3936 children
and adolescents under the age of 17 who were referred to the public receiving
home for suspected maltreatment. The study examines the correlation between
background characteristics (i.e. age, gender, race/ethnicity, reasons for
referral), and case outcome decisions (i.e. case open to service, out-of-home
placement, and family reunification), using bivariate
and multivariate analysis. Racial/ethnic differences are observed. Compared to
census data, African Americans are the only over-represented group. Latinos,
Asians, and Anglos are all under-represented.
2. Significant differences were detected when
race/ethnicity was analyzed with respect to the case opened, length of stay in
the foster care, and length of time for family reunification. African American
subjects are consistently observed in each outcome category at higher
proportions than all other racial/ ethnic groups, both mainstream and minority
populations.
D. Long-Run Effects of
Movements between Foster homes while in the Program
V. Unrau, Yvonne A.; Seita, John R.;
Putney, Kristin S.; Children and Youth Services Review, Vol
30(11),
Nov 2008. pp. 1256-1266.
1. The purpose of this qualitative study is to
better understand the experience and perceived impact of multiple placement
moves on adults who lived in foster care for at least some portion of their
childhoods. Network and snowball sampling resulted in interviews with 22 adults
between the ages of 18 and 65 years old, who had formerly lived in foster care.
2. The findings reveal that the experience of placement
moves is not only remembered as a series of significant losses but also
perceived by participants to leave imprinted negative emotional scars,
particularly in the area of trusting people and building and maintaining
relationships. While participants remembered the negative aspects of placement
moves in very similar ways, strategies for coping and resilience were more
unique to individuals.
3. The findings are important in that prior research
on placement stability has not focused on understanding the perceived
consequences of the move experience on those formerly in foster care who are
now adults. Theories of attachment, grief, traumatic stress and resilience, as
well as the concept of family privilege, can help to inform best practice for
foster care practitioners and caregivers involved in placement moves for foster
children.
E. Long-Run Vulnerabilities to
Drugs in young adults transitioning into Indepedence
Vaughn,
Michael G.; Ollie, Marcia T.; McMillen, J. Curtis;
Scott, Lionel Jr.; Munson, Michelle;
Addictive Behaviors, Vol 32(9), Sep 2007. pp. 1929-1935.
1.
The purpose of this study was to explore prevalence and predictors of
current and lifetime substance use and substance abuse disorder, use among
older youth in foster care. Interviews were conducted with 406 17-year old
youth (90% of those eligible) in one state's foster care system between
December 2001 and June 2003.
2.
Forty-five percent of foster care youth reported using alcohol or
illicit drugs within the last six months; 49% had tried drugs sometime during
their lifetime and 35% met criteria for a substance use disorder. Having a
diagnosis of Conduct Disorder and/or living in an independent living situation
significantly increased the likelihood of current and lifetime substance use
and disorder.
3.
Older youth in the foster care system report similar levels of lifetime
alcohol and illicit substance use when compared to the general adolescent
population. However, rates of substance use disorder are high.
IV. How to Improvement Transitional
System
A. Discover of early signs of future drug use/mental health issues in
Foster Care Youth
1. Taussig, Heather N.;
Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol 26(11), Nov 2002. pp.
1179-1199.
a. The current study examined
protective and vulnerability factors in a longitudinal study of youth placed in
foster care. A cohort of 214 ethnically-diverse youth, ages 7-12 yrs old, were
recruited for the Time 1 study if they remained in foster care for at least 5
mo. For the Time 1 study, youth and their caregivers were interviewed and
assessed approximately 6 months following their initial placement. Six years
later, as adolescents, the youth were re-interviewed regarding their
involvement in 4 domains of risk behavior. Bivariate
analyses indicated that several Time 1 control variables (e.g., age, ethnicity,
type of maltreatment, behavior problems) and Time 1 psychosocial predictor
variables (i.e., dimensions of social support and self-perception) were related
to the Time 2 risk behavior outcomes.
b. The results suggest that there are some
modifiable protective and vulnerability factors present shortly after
maltreated youth are placed in foster care that predict their engagement in
adolescent risk behaviors 6 yrs later.
2. Dworsky, Amy; Courtney, Mark; Addressing the mental health service needs of foster youth during the transition
to adulthood: How big is the problem and what can states do? Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol
44(1), Jan 2009. pp. 1-2.
a. Decline in the receipt of mental health services
across different treatment types between the ages of 17 and 19 years old among
approximately 400 young people transitioning out of foster care in
3. Linares, L. Oriana; Montalto, Daniela; Li, MinMin; Oza, Vikash S.; Journal of
Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 74(1), Feb
2006. pp. 32-41.
a. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
effectiveness of a 2-component intervention for biological and foster parent
(pairs) to improve parenting practices, co-parenting, and child externalizing
problems. Participants were biological and foster parents (N = 128) of
primarily neglected children (ages 3 to 10 years) placed in regular foster
homes. Biological and foster parents were randomly assigned in pairs to the
intervention (n = 80) or a usual care (n = 48) condition. Intervention families
received a 12-week parenting course (Incredible Years) and a newly developed
co-parenting component.
b. Key findings included significant gains in
positive parenting and collaborative co-parenting for both biological and
foster parents at the end of the intervention. At follow-up, intervention
parents sustained greater improvement in positive parenting, showed gains in
clear expectations, and reported a trend for fewer child externalizing
problems. Findings supported the feasibility of offering joint parenting
training to meet the needs of participating families and demonstrated that the
co-parenting construct applied to families in the foster care system was
amenable to intervention.
4. Scott, Lionel D. Jr.; Munson, Michelle R.; McMillen, J. Curtis; Ollie,
Marcia T.; American Journal of Community Psychology, Vol
38(3-4), Dec 2006. Special issue: Exemplars of community practice. pp. 223-236.
a. This study examined
religious involvement and its association to risk behaviors (sexual behavior,
marijuana use, alcohol use, and cigarette use) among older youth in foster care
(N = 383). Three dimensions of religious involvement were assessed--church or
religious service attendance, religious practices, and religious beliefs.
Findings showed that gender, ethnic group membership, sexual abuse history, and
placement type were significantly associated with older foster care youth's
religious involvement.
b. Religious service attendance was associated with
reduced odds of youth's engagement in sexual behavior in the past 2 months and
current use of cigarettes. In addition, greater religious beliefs were
associated with a reduction in odds of youth's use of alcohol in the past 6
months and current use of cigarettes. The consideration of religious
involvement as a positive influence and resource that may reduce unhealthy risk
behaviors among older youth in foster care is discussed.
B. The Need for an Early Supportive Network (Mentors/Friends/Siblings)
1. Munson, Michelle R.; McMillen, J. Curtis; Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 31(1), Jan 2009. pp. 104-111.
a. This study explores mentoring
relationships among a group of older youth in foster care (n=339), particularly
whether or not their relationships last over time.
b. Results of simultaneous and hierarchical
regression analyses reveal that the presence of a mentor and the duration of
the relationship at age 18 are associated with better psychological outcomes,
such as fewer depression symptoms, less stress and more satisfaction with life
at 18 1/2. b. Youth in long term natural mentoring relationships reported less
stress and were less likely to have been arrested at age 19.
2. Osterling,
Kathy Lemon; Hines, Alice M.; Child & Family Social Work, Vol 11(3), Aug 2006. pp.
242-253.
a. Studied 'Advocates to Successful Transition to
Independence' mentoring program designed to train mentors to assist older
adolescent foster youth in acquiring skills and resources needed for successful
transition out of foster care and into adulthood.
b. Results suggest that the use of a mentoring
program for older adolescent foster youth represents a particularly beneficial
prevention strategy that may help prevent negative outcomes as youth emancipate
from the foster care system and transition into young adulthood.
3. Shook, Jeffrey J.;
Vaughn, Michael G.; Litschge, Christy; Kolivoski, Karen; Schelbe, Lisa;
Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 31(2), Feb
2009. pp. 284-291.
a. The importance of friends
during the developmental periods of childhood and adolescence is widely
accepted and there is reason to believe that deviant peers play an important
role in influencing the experiences and outcomes of young people aging out of
foster care.
b. Article explores the role that deviant peers play
in the lives of youth aging out of foster care.
c. Youth exhibiting high levels of deviant peer
affiliations were more likely to be fired from a job, to possess a diagnosis of
antisocial personality disorder, to report higher levels of substance use, and
to report being arrested than youth in the other two classes. Youth in the low
deviant peer affiliation class exhibited higher levels of family support and
lower levels of neighborhood disorder than youth in the other two classes.
C. Transition Supportive Systems
1. Davis,
Maryann; Within-state
availability of transition-to-adulthood services for youths with serious mental
health conditions. Psychiatric
Services, Vol 57(11), Nov 2006. pp. 1658-1659.
a. This study describes the
existence and nature of services within state child and adult mental health
systems that support the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
b. Methods: State child and
adult mental health administrators from all but one state were interviewed by telephone
with a questionnaire regarding transition services in their state mental health
system, such as supported housing, vocational support, preparation for independent
living, and dual diagnosis treatment.
c. Results: One-quarter of
child state mental health systems and one-half of adult state mental health
systems offered no transition services, and few provided any kind of transition
service at more than one site. Most types of transition services were available
at all in less than 20 percent of the states.
d. Conclusions: Across the
2. Lemon, Kathy; Hines,
Alice M.; Merdinger, Joan; Children and Youth
Services Review, Vol 27(3), Mar 2005. pp. 251-270.
a. This article presents two analyses exploring the
potentially beneficial role of independent living programs (ILPs)
for foster youth.
1) First, a comparative
analysis using survey data describes characteristics of former foster youth who
were enrolled in an ILP while in foster care (N=81) compared to those who were
not (N=113).
2) Second, an ethnographic
analysis using interview data with ILP coordinators in nine
b. Survey results indicated that ILP participants
were more likely to be African American or Mexican American/other Latino, and
while in foster care, they tended to be placed in non-relative placements, had
more out-of-home placements, and were more likely than non-ILP participants to
have been taught a number of independent living skills.
3. Merdinger,
Joan M.; Hines, Alice M.; Osterling, Kathy Lemon;
Wyatt, Paige; Child Welfare Journal, Vol 84(6),
Nov-Dec 2005. pp. 867-896.
a. This article presents early descriptive findings
from the Pathways to College study, a multi-method and multiphase study of
emancipated foster youth.
b. Results based on a sample of 216 emancipated
foster youth attending a four-year university indicate that many of their
experiences are characteristic of individuals manifesting resilience in the
face of adversity.
c. At the same time, results indicate that although
the youth are successful academically, they may be vulnerable in other areas.
This article examines the participants' responses, comparing them to other
studies to understand the factors that affect the academic performance of
former foster youth.
4. Packard, Thomas; Delgado,
Melanie; Fellmeth, Robert; McCready,
Karen; Children and Youth Services Review, Vol
30(11), Nov 2008. pp. 1267-1278.
a. Over 24,000 youth "aged
out" of the nation's foster care system in FY 2005. While independent
living programs and other services are available to foster youth, and almost
all states allow dependency courts to retain jurisdiction of foster youth
beyond age 18, outcomes for former foster youth are disturbing.
b. This paper describes a program to address these
challenges by providing extended foster care benefits and support to former
foster youth from their 18th to 23rd birthdays. A detailed cost-benefit
methodology documents expected costs and key benefits of the program.
c. According to this cost-benefit analysis, a
program providing funding and guardian support for former foster youth is
projected to result in net benefits to the State of
VI. References
Clare, Glenda. Perception of barriers and coping-efficacy as
determinants of readiness for transition to adulthood among older youth in
foster care. Dissertation
Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol 67(9-A), 2007. pp. 3374.
Collins, Mary
Elizabeth; Paris, Ruth; Ward, Rolanda L. The permanence of
family ties: Implications for youth transitioning from foster care. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol
78(1), Jan 2008. pp. 54-62.
Davis, Maryann. Within-state availability of transition-to-adulthood
services for youths with serious mental health conditions. Psychiatric Services, Vol 57(11), Nov 2006. pp. 1658-1659.
Dworsky, Amy; Courtney, Mark; Addressing the mental health service
needs of foster youth during the transition to adulthood: How big is the
problem and what can states do? Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol 44(1), Jan
2009. pp. 1-2.
Farruggia, Susan P. The transition
from foster care to independence. Dissertation
Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, Vol 67(3-B), 2006. pp. 1729.
Hollander,
Scott; Budd, Jonathan; Petulla, William A.; Staley,
Jennifer A.; Helping Clietts
Transition to Independent Living. Family Court Review, Vol
45(3), Jul 2007. pp. 444-454
Keller, Thomas E.; Cusick, Gretchen Ruth; Courtney, Mark E.; Approaching the transition to adulthood: Distinctive
profiles of adolescents aging out of the child welfare system. Social Service Review, Vol 81(3), Sep 2007.
pp. 453-484.
Lemon, Kathy; Hines, Alice
M.; Merdinger, Joan; From foster care to young adulthood: The role of
independent living programs in supporting successful transitions. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol
27(3), Mar 2005. pp. 251-270.
Linares, L. Oriana; Montalto,
Daniela; Li, MinMin; Oza, Vikash S.; A
Promising Parenting Intervention in Foster Care. Journal of Consulting and
Clinical Psychology, Vol 74(1), Feb 2006. pp. 32-41.
Lu, Yuhwa
Eva; Landsverk, John; Ellis-Macleod, Elissa; Newton, Rae; Ganger, William; Johnson, Ivory; Race, ethnicity, and case
outcomes in child protective services. Children and
Youth Services Review, Vol 26(5), May 2004. pp.
447-461.
Merdinger, Joan M.; Hines, Alice M.; Osterling, Kathy Lemon; Wyatt, Paige; Pathways to college for former foster youth:
Understanding factors that contribute to educational success.
Child Welfare Journal, Vol 84(6), Nov-Dec 2005. pp. 867-896.
Munson, Michelle R.; McMillen, J. Curtis; Natural mentoring and
psychosocial outcomes among older youth transitioning from foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 31(1), Jan 2009. pp. 104-111.
Osterling, Kathy Lemon; Hines, Alice M.; Mentoring adolescent foster
youth: Promoting resilience during developmental transitions. Child & Family Social Work, Vol 11(3), Aug 2006. pp. 242-253.
Packard, Thomas; Delgado,
Melanie; Fellmeth, Robert; McCready,
Karen; A cost-benefit analysis of transitional services for emancipating
foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 30(11), Nov 2008. pp. 1267-1278.
Pelton, Leroy H.; Review of a History of Child Protection in
Scott,
Lionel D. Jr.; Munson, Michelle R.;
McMillen, J. Curtis; Ollie, Marcia T.; Religious involvement and its association to risk behaviors among older
youth in foster care. American
Journal of Community Psychology, Vol 38(3-4), Dec
2006. Special issue: Exemplars of community practice. pp. 223-236.
Shook,
Jeffrey J.; Vaughn, Michael G.; Litschge, Christy; Kolivoski, Karen; Schelbe, Lisa; The importance of friends among foster youth aging out of care: Cluster
profiles of deviant peer affiliations. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 31(2), Feb 2009. pp. 284-291
Taussig, Heather N.; Risk behaviors in maltreated
youth placed in foster care: A longitudinal study of protective and
vulnerability factors. Child
Abuse & Neglect, Vol 26(11), Nov 2002. pp.
1179-1199
Unrau, Yvonne A.; Seita,
John R.; Putney, Kristin S.; Former foster youth remember
multiple placement moves: A journey of loss and hope. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 30(11), Nov 2008. pp. 1256-1266.
Vacca, James S.; Foster children need more
help after they reach the age of eighteen. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol 30(5), May 2008. pp. 485-492.
Vaughn, Michael G.; Ollie,
Marcia T.; McMillen, J. Curtis; Scott, Lionel Jr.; Munson, Michelle; Substance use and abuse
among older youth in foster care. Addictive Behaviors, Vol 32(9), Sep
2007. pp. 1929-1935.