IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v160y2024ics0190740924001233.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Statewide aftercare services program for youth transitioning from foster care: Five-year trends in participation, services, and participant characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Weems, Carl F.
  • Melby, Janet N.
  • Behrer, Carol
  • Wolfe, Doug
  • Scozzafava, Mikaela D.

Abstract

Research shows that youth who leave foster care to live independently are often at risk of homelessness, less education, unemployment/poverty, and mental health issues. There are a number of reasons for this increased risk. A variety of aftercare services for youth leaving foster care are designed to help address these risks. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in participation and understand the experiences of youth transitioning from foster care who were involved in the Iowa Aftercare Services Program. We examine trends in participation, services received, participant reports of service satisfaction, as well as employment and educational data at entry and exit over the past five years. We also examine trends in adverse life experiences and mental health characteristics. This is a secondary analysis of Iowa Aftercare Services program evaluation data, which includes survey data on participant reports of service satisfaction, as well as employment and educational data at entry and exit. The results suggest that the program serves a large portion of youth exiting foster care and is associated with high rates of satisfaction with the services, as well as high self-sufficiency ratings in housing, finances, and relationships. Moreover, youth rates of employment and education were greater when exiting the program than at study entry. We found variation in the rates of services received across the types of supports and found high rates of mental health and adverse life experiences among the participants. The findings from this study add to the literature, suggesting the benefit of statewide aftercare services and opportunities for enhancing programs for foster care youth. Specifically, mental health services might be augmented for this population with specific assessment targets, opportunities to facilitate recruitment of males, and the need to identify and reduce potential barriers to youth accessing available services.

Suggested Citation

  • Weems, Carl F. & Melby, Janet N. & Behrer, Carol & Wolfe, Doug & Scozzafava, Mikaela D., 2024. "Statewide aftercare services program for youth transitioning from foster care: Five-year trends in participation, services, and participant characteristics," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:160:y:2024:i:c:s0190740924001233
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107551
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740924001233
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107551?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Kim, Youngmi & Ju, Eunsu & Rosenberg, Rachel & Farmer, Elizabeth (Betsy) M.Z., 2019. "Estimating the effects of independent living services on educational attainment and employment of foster care youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 294-301.
    3. Okpych, Nathanael J., 2015. "Receipt of independent living services among older youth in foster care: An analysis of national data from the U.S," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 74-86.
    4. Lenz-Rashid, Sonja, 2006. "Employment experiences of homeless young adults: Are they different for youth with a history of foster care?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 235-259, March.
    5. Dworsky, A. & Napolitano, L. & Courtney, M., 2013. "Homelessness during the transition from foster care to adulthood," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(S2), pages 318-323.
    6. Dworsky, Amy & Pérez, Alfred, 2010. "Helping former foster youth graduate from college through campus support programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 255-263, February.
    7. Tucker, David J. & MacKenzie, Michael J., 2012. "Attachment theory and change processes in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2208-2219.
    8. 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.
    9. Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Tan, Fei & Chacon, Alexi & Ortiz, Andrew J., 2020. "Interventions for youth aging out of foster care: A state of the science review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Kothari, Brianne H. & Miller, Rebecca A., 2023. "Intervention development to improve foster youth mental health by targeting coping self-efficacy and help-seeking," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    2. S. Samarah, Esaa Mohammad & Schelbe, Lisa & Jackson, Lisa A., 2023. "A photovoice study of college students who have experienced foster care, relative care, and/or homelessness," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Blakeslee, Jennifer & Miller, Rebecca & Uretsky, Mathew, 2022. "Efficacy of the Project Futures self-determination coaching model for college students with foster care backgrounds and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    4. Villagrana, Kalah M. & Mody, Elizabeth H. & Lawler, Siobhan M. & Wu, Qi & Ferguson, Kristin M., 2020. "Educational outcomes for homeless young adults with and without a history in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Best, Jared I., 2019. "Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 220-230.
    6. Miller, Rebecca & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Ison, Chanel, 2020. "Exploring college student identity among young people with foster care histories and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    7. Doucet, Melanie M. & Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Eldeeb, Nehal, 2022. "Independent living programs and services for youth 'aging out' of care in Canada and the U.S.: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    8. Cheatham, Leah P. & Luo, Yan & Hubbard, Shannon & Jackson, M. Sebrena & Hassenbein, Will & Bertram, Jess, 2021. "Cultivating safe and stable spaces: Reflections on a campus-based support program for foster care alumni and youth experiencing homelessness," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    9. Cheatham, Leah P. & Randolph, Karen A. & Boltz, Laura D., 2020. "Youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care: Examining prevalence and predicting positive outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    10. Opsal, Tara & Eman, Rebecca, 2018. "Invisible vulnerability: Participant perceptions of a campus-based program for students without caregivers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 617-627.
    11. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    12. Randolph, Karen A. & Thompson, Heather, 2017. "A systematic review of interventions to improve post-secondary educational outcomes among foster care alumni," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 602-611.
    13. 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.
    14. Strayhorn, Terrell L., 2021. "Interrogating the collegiate experiences of African American males formerly in foster care: A critical qualitative analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    15. repec:mpr:mprres:8139 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Woodgate, Roberta L. & Morakinyo, Oluwatobiloba & Martin, Katrina M., 2017. "Interventions for youth aging out of care: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 280-300.
    17. Okpych, Nathanael J. & Courtney, Mark E., 2018. "The role of avoidant attachment on college persistence and completion among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 106-117.
    18. Yan, Jason & Hall, Seventy F. & Sage, Melanie & Du, Yuhao & Joseph, Kenneth, 2024. "A computational social science approach to understanding predictors of Chafee service receipt," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    19. Watt, Toni & Lord, Kayli & Bustillos, Sheila & Gavin-Williams, Regina & Greeson, Johanna & Hail, Toni & Hoffman-Cooper, Angela, 2023. "Campus liaisons for students who have experienced foster care: Lessons learned from Texas legislation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    20. Mountz, Sarah & Pan, Shaoji & Dyett, Jordan & Johnson, Angeleek & Anderson, Amiri & Jarvis, Jael & Ng, Adriana & Palmer-Tibbs, Asia & Snow, Selena & Vasquez, Nikolas, 2023. "“I have my family right here”: Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) and peer support among a cohort of fosterscholars," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    21. Salazar, Amy M. & Schelbe, Lisa, 2021. "Factors associated with post-college success for foster care alumni college graduates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:160:y:2024:i:c:s0190740924001233. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.