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“We are kind of their parents”: Child welfare workers’ perspective on sexuality education for foster youth

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  • Harmon-Darrow, Caroline
  • Burruss, Karen
  • Finigan-Carr, Nadine

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults placed in our child welfare system are at an increased risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections due to their likelihood to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex and sex with multiple partners. They receive unclear and inconsistent messages about sexual and reproductive health and lack access to reproductive health services and programs. Focus groups (N = 3) comprised of child welfare workers and foster parents were conducted to capture the issues relevant to addressing the sexual reproductive health needs of youth in out-of-home care. Participants indicated that they generally did not receive sufficient training, if any, yet were expected to address sexual reproductive health issues with youth. The responses were organized into three themes that should be considered when developing training interventions: (1) how to communicate with youth about sexual reproductive health; (2) defining adults’ roles and activities in assisting youth; and, (3) discussions about their values about sex and sexual activity. The results of this study point to a need for child welfare workers and foster parents to receive concrete practice skills regarding how to address the sexual reproductive health needs of youth.

Suggested Citation

  • Harmon-Darrow, Caroline & Burruss, Karen & Finigan-Carr, Nadine, 2020. "“We are kind of their parents”: Child welfare workers’ perspective on sexuality education for foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:108:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919306644
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104565
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matta Oshima, Karen M. & Narendorf, Sarah Carter & McMillen, J. Curtis, 2013. "Pregnancy risk among older youth transitioning out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1760-1765.
    2. Lindahl, Robert & Bruhn, Anders, 2018. "Professional dilemmas and occupational constraints in child welfare workers' relationships with children and youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 333-340.
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    4. Svoboda, Deborah V. & Shaw, Terry V. & Barth, Richard P. & Bright, Charlotte Lyn, 2012. "Pregnancy and parenting among youth in foster care: A review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 867-875.
    5. James, Sigrid & Montgomery, Susanne B. & Leslie, Laurel K. & Zhang, Jinjin, 2009. "Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 990-1000, September.
    6. Haight, Wendy & Finet, Dayna & Bamba, Sachiko & Helton, Jesse, 2009. "The beliefs of resilient African-American adolescent mothers transitioning from foster care to independent living: A case-based analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 53-62, January.
    7. Dworsky, Amy & Courtney, Mark E., 2010. "The risk of teenage pregnancy among transitioning foster youth: Implications for extending state care beyond age 18," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1351-1356, October.
    8. Aparicio, Elizabeth & Pecukonis, Edward V. & O'Neale, Shalita, 2015. "“The love that I was missing”: Exploring the lived experience of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 44-54.
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    Cited by:

    1. Riad, Germeen & Forden, Carie, 2021. "“If we didn't talk, we would be like ostriches burying our heads in the sand”: Attitudes toward sexuality, gender, and sex education among child protection social workers in Egypt," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Greene, Alison & Korchmaros, Josephine D., 2022. "Engaging parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in a sexual health intervention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Prévost-Lemire, Madeleine & Paquette, Geneviève & Lanctôt, Nadine, 2021. "Trauma symptoms as factors associated with early motherhood among young women who had contact with child protective services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    4. Combs, Katie Massey & Cook Lee, Mackenzie & Ramseyer Winter, Virginia & Taussig, Heather, 2022. "Sexual and reproductive health protective factors among adolescents with child welfare involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    5. Finigan-Carr, Nadine M. & Craddock, Jaih B. & Johnson, Tonya, 2021. "Predictors of condom use among system-involved youth: The importance of Sex Ed," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    6. Ross, Christina & Kools, Susan & Laughon, Kathryn, 2020. "“It was only me against the world.” Female African American Adolescents’ perspectives on their sexual and reproductive health learning and experiences while in foster care: Implications for positive y," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    7. van der Gaag, Renske Sanne & Gisella Gwendolyn Walpot, Mirjam & Boendermaker, Leonieke, 2024. "Professional competencies for sexuality and relationships education in child and youth social care: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

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