Ready or Not: A Program Evaluation of Interventions Used by the Department of Child Welfare Services for Aging Out Foster Care Youths
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| Publicado en: | ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (2025) |
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ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
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| Acceso en línea: | Citation/Abstract Full Text - PDF |
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| Resumen: | In the US, there were approximately 20,010 youth who exited the foster care system by way of aging out of care. When compared to their same aged peers, foster care youth experience challenges and are found to have diminished rates of success after aging out of foster care. Utilizing the theoretical framework of emerging adulthood, this study sought to assess if foster care workers believed current programs and interventions in the foster care system meet the needs of an individual facing the developmental stage of emerging adulthood. Arnett (2020) defined emerging adulthood as a developmental life stage (usually age 18-25); categorized by five distinct concepts: feeling of being in-between adolescence and adulthood, instability, identity exploration, self-focus, and optimism. Using a mixed methods approach, the study consisted of 11 participants who completed the survey via Qualtrics, including providing demographic information, rating scales, and narrative responses to assess both the strengths and weaknesses of current programs, as well as their alignment with emerging adult characteristics. The results indicate no significant findings for the non-parametric data, and there were four themes derived from the deductive thematic analysis: inflexibility stifling individualism, support is crucial to success, practical knowledge vs. emotional growth, and insufficient integration of characteristics of emerging adulthood. The results indicate that transitional programs do not align with the characteristics of emerging adulthood, and that clinicians and workers need to find ways to integrate longer term support, address emotional well-being, and maintain a developmental perspective when working with youth. |
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| ISBN: | 9798290917092 |
| Fuente: | ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global |