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Experiences and needs of homeless youth with a history of foster care

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Listed:
  • Bender, Kimberly
  • Yang, Jessica
  • Ferguson, Kristin
  • Thompson, Sanna

Abstract

Youth exiting the foster care system through emancipation are at an increased risk for homelessness and adverse social, health, and financial outcomes. However, because youth exiting foster care are difficult to locate once homeless, few studies have examined their needs and experiences on the streets. Quantitative interviews were conducted in a large multi-site pilot study of youth (N=601) seeking homeless services in Denver (n=201), Austin (n=200) and Los Angeles (n=200). Over one-third of the sample (n=221) included youth who reported a history of foster care involvement. The study aimed to 1) describe youth with a history of foster care in terms of their homeless contexts (primary living situations, time homeless, peer substance use, transience, and victimization) and areas of need (education, income generation, mental health, and substance use); 2) determine how homeless youth with foster care history differ from their non-foster care homeless counterparts; and 3) identify factors associated with longer duration of homelessness among youth with a history of foster care. Findings suggest that youth with a history of foster care were generally living in precarious situations, characterized as dangerous and unstable, and they had significant needs in regards to education, income generation, mental health, and substance use treatment. Although few differences were observed between youth who reported a history of foster care and those who did not, foster youth reported greater childhood maltreatment and longer duration of homelessness. Foster care youth who reported greater transience and childhood physical neglect, as well as those who were living with relatives, friends, foster parents, or in facilities in the 6months preceding the interview reported a longer duration of homelessness. Implications are discussed for child welfare and homeless youth service organizations regarding the unique needs of foster care youth who become homeless.

Suggested Citation

  • Bender, Kimberly & Yang, Jessica & Ferguson, Kristin & Thompson, Sanna, 2015. "Experiences and needs of homeless youth with a history of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 222-231.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:55:y:2015:i:c:p:222-231
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.06.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gunawardena, Nathali & Stich, Christine, 2021. "Interventions for young people aging out of the child welfare system: A systematic literature review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    2. Narendorf, Sarah Carter & Bowen, Elizabeth & Santa Maria, Diane & Thibaudeau, Eva, 2018. "Risk and resilience among young adults experiencing homelessness: A typology for service planning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 157-165.
    3. Villagrana, Margarita & Guillen, Cindy & Macedo, Vanessa & Lee, Sei-Young, 2018. "Perceived self-stigma in the utilization of mental health services in foster care and post foster care among foster care alumni," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 26-34.
    4. Semanchin Jones, Annette & Bowen, Elizabeth & Ball, Annahita, 2018. "“School definitely failed me, the system failed me”: Identifying opportunities to impact educational outcomes for homeless and child welfare-involved youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 66-76.
    5. Lindner, Abigail Rose & Hanlon, Ryan, 2024. "Outcomes of youth with foster care experiences based on permanency outcome – Adoption, aging out, long-term foster care, and reunification: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Power, Luke & Hardy, Mark, 2024. "Predictors of care leavers’ health outcomes: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    7. Elise Barboza, Gia & Valentine, Romello, 2022. "A network analysis of post-traumatic stress among youth aging out of the foster care system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    8. Reynolds, Andrew D. & Hasson, Robert G. & Crea, Thomas M., 2018. "Testing the ‘overburdening’ hypothesis: Do work and school attendance together place youth transitioning from care at risk for negative housing outcomes?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 279-286.
    9. 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).
    10. 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).
    11. 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.
    12. Ryan Cooper & Joseph Doyle & Andres Hojman, 2023. "Legal aid in child welfare: Evidence from a randomized trial of Mi Abogado," POID Working Papers 077, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    13. Narendorf, Sarah C. & Brydon, Daphne M. & Santa Maria, Diane & Bender, Kimberly & Ferguson, Kristin M. & Hsu, Hsun-Ta & Barman-Adhikari, Anamika & Shelton, Jama & Petering, Robin, 2020. "System involvement among young adults experiencing homelessness: Characteristics of four system-involved subgroups and relationship to risk outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    14. Eric R. Wright & Ana LaBoy & Kara Tsukerman & Nicholas Forge & Erin Ruel & Renee Shelby & Madison Higbee & Zoe Webb & Melanie Turner-Harper & Asantewaa Darkwa & Cody Wallace, 2021. "The Prevalence and Correlates of Labor and Sex Trafficking in a Community Sample of Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Metro-Atlanta," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, January.
    15. Bonakdar, Ahmad & Gaetz, Stephen & Banchani, Emmanuel & Schwan, Kaitlin & Kidd, Sean A. & O'Grady, Bill, 2023. "Child protection services and youth experiencing homelessness: Findings of the 2019 national youth homelessness survey in Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    16. Kelly, Peggy, 2020. "Risk and protective factors contributing to homelessness among foster care youth: An analysis of the National Youth in Transition Database," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).

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