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The impact of COVID-19 on campus-based support programs serving students with foster care experience: Focus groups with administrators and students

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  • Lopez, Kizzy M.
  • Geiger, Jennifer M.
  • Okpych, Nathanael J.
  • Gamez, Sara I.
  • Larregui, Danielle

Abstract

The onset of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced higher education institutions to abruptly transition to remote services and online learning. Students with a foster care background are a subgroup of students who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, as were the campus-based programs (CSPs) designed to support them. The purpose of this study was to learn about the impact of the pandemic on CSPs and CSP participants. Focus groups were conducted with CSP administrators and separately with CSP students from two- and four-year colleges in California. The first theme that emerged from the data focused on challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, with six subthemes zeroing in on breaks in social connections, academic disruptions, technology woes, gaps in basic needs, employment challenges, and the toll on mental health. The second theme described participants’ responses, including their creative and collaborative actions. Administrators quickly adapted service delivery, formed partnerships with new units and organizations to ensure students’ needs were met, and found creative ways to stay connected with students during a time of pervasive isolation. Students talked about their own efforts to access resources, connect with peers, and use of strategies to manage challenges such as burnout and depression. A second subtheme highlighted the ways participants displayed resilience, such as creating boundaries to manage their own self-care and leaning on each other for support. The findings from this study increase our understanding of the experiences students faced during the pandemic and shed light on implications moving forward to support students with foster care histories in higher education.

Suggested Citation

  • Lopez, Kizzy M. & Geiger, Jennifer M. & Okpych, Nathanael J. & Gamez, Sara I. & Larregui, Danielle, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on campus-based support programs serving students with foster care experience: Focus groups with administrators and students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:143:y:2022:i:c:s0190740922003322
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106696
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Okpych, Nathanael J. & Park, Sunggeun (Ethan) & Sayed, Samiya & Courtney, Mark E., 2020. "The roles of Campus-Support Programs (CSPs) and Education and Training Vouchers (ETVs) on college persistence for youth with foster care histories," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Havlicek, Judy R. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Smith, Douglas C., 2013. "Mental health and substance use disorders among foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Past research and future directions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 194-203.
    3. Unrau, Yvonne A. & Seita, John R. & Putney, Kristin S., 2008. "Former foster youth remember multiple placement moves: A journey of loss and hope," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1256-1266, November.
    4. Ruff, Saralyn C. & Linville, Deanna, 2021. "Experiences of young adults with a history of foster care during COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Geiger, Jennifer M. & Piel, Megan Hayes & Day, Angelique & Schelbe, Lisa, 2018. "A descriptive analysis of programs serving foster care alumni in higher education: Challenges and opportunities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 287-294.
    6. Samuels, Gina Miranda, 2009. "Ambiguous loss of home: The experience of familial (im)permanence among young adults with foster care backgrounds," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1229-1239, December.
    7. Day, Angelique & Dworsky, Amy & Fogarty, Kieran & Damashek, Amy, 2011. "An examination of post-secondary retention and graduation among foster care youth enrolled in a four-year university," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2335-2341.
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    Cited by:

    1. Power, Luke & Hardy, Mark, 2024. "Predictors of care leavers’ health outcomes: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

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