Abstract
Background
Life skills development among youth in foster care is critical in helping them overcome the barriers they face when leaving care. While foster care agencies, child welfare professionals, and caregivers play important roles in life skills development, little research has examined the topic from their perspectives.
Objective
This study examined the barriers and supports Florida foster care agencies, child welfare professionals, and caregivers face related to life skills development of youth in foster care.
Methods
Foster care agency representatives (n = 11) completed interviews or questionnaires and identified agency-level challenges, agency-level supports, and caregiver-focused supports for life skills development. In surveys, child welfare professionals (n = 24) and caregivers (n = 23) identified the challenges and supports they experience, as well as additional supports they needed. Semi-structured interviews with three child welfare professionals and seven caregivers gathered in-depth information on the topics covered in the survey. Thematic analysis was employed to identify themes within the data.
Results
While a number of challenges (i.e., lack of youth-focused resources, staff turnover) emerged across all three groups, supports were more varied across and within groups. Notably, caregivers received minimal support from the foster care system in helping youth develop life skills. Despite this, caregivers and child welfare professionals mainly identified youth-focused resources and services as needed additional supports.
Conclusions
More training, support, and funding are required to address the challenges identified in this study. Broader child welfare issues, such as staff retention and turnover, must also be addressed to support the youths’ development of independent living skills.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Author (2018). [Title omitted for blind review].
Berzin, S. C., & Taylor, S. A. (2009). Preparing foster youth for independent living: Collaboration between county independent living programs and community-based youth-serving agencies. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 3(3), 254–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548730903129848.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Cahalane, & Sites, E. W. (2008). The climate of child welfare employee retention. Child Welfare, 87(1), 91–114. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48623098.
Collins, M. E., Spencer, R., & Ward, R. (2010). Supporting youth in the transition from foster care: Formal and informal connections. Child Welfare, 125–143. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45400625.
Cooley, M. E., Thompson, H. M., & Wojciak, A. S. (2017). Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 76, 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.02.030.
Cooley, M. E., Thompson, H. M., & Newell, E. (2019). Examining the influence of social support on the relationship between child behavior problems and foster parent satisfaction and challenges. Child & Youth Care Forum, 48, 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-018-9478-6.
Courtney, M. E., & Dworsky, A. (2006). Early outcomes for young adults transitioning from out-of‐home care in the USA. Child & Family Social Work, 11(3), 209–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00433.x.
Courtney, M. E. (2009). The difficult transition to adulthood for foster youth in the US: Implications for the state as corporate parent (Volume XXIII, Number I). Society for Research in Child Development. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED509761.pdf.
Courtney, M. E., Okpych, N. J., Charles, P., Mikell, D., Stevenson, B., Park, K., & Feng, H. (2016). Findings from the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (CalYOUTH): Conditions of youth at age 19. Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. https://www.chapinhall.org/wp-content/uploads/CY_YT_RE0516_4-1. pdf.
Cuddeback, G. S., & Orme, J. G. (2002). Training and services for kinship and nonkinship foster families. Child Welfare, 81(6), 879–909. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45390097.
Cunningham, M. J., & Diversi, M. (2013). Aging out: Youths’ perspectives on foster care and the transition to independence. Qualitative Social Work, 12(5), 587–602. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325012445833.
Curry, A. (2019). If you can’t be with this client for some years, don’t do it”: Exploring the emotional and relational effects of turnover on youth in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 99, 374–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.026.
Day, A., Dworsky, A., Fogarty, K., & Damashek, A. (2011). An examination of post-secondary retention and graduation among foster care youth enrolled in a four-year university. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(11), 2335–2341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.004.
de Guzman, A., Carver-Roberts, T., Leake, R., & Rienks, S. (2020). Retention of child welfare workers: Staying strategies and supports. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 14(1), 60–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2019.1683121.
DePanfilis, D., & Zlotnik, J. L. (2008). Retention of front-line staff in child welfare: A systematic review of research. Children and Youth Services Review, 30(9), 995–1008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2007.12.017.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2021). Adoption and foster care analysis and reporting system report. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb.
Dworsky, A., Napolitano, L., & Courtney, M. (2013). Homelessness during the transition from foster care to adulthood. American Journal of Public Health, 103(S2), S318–S323. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301455.
Ellett, A. J., Ellis, J. I., & Westbrook, T. M. (2007). A qualitative study of 369 child welfare professionals’ perspectives about factors contributing to employee retention and turnover. Children and Youth Services Review, 29(2), 264–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2006.07.005.
Fla, A. (2016). Code R. 65 C-28.009 https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=65C-28.009.
Florida Department of Children and Families. (2019). CF operating procedure. No. 170 – 17.
Fowler, P. J., Marcal, K. E., Zhang, J., Day, O., & Landsverk, J. (2017). Homelessness and aging out of foster care: A national comparison of child welfare-involved adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 77, 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.03.017.
Goodkind, S., Schelbe, L. A., & Shook, J. J. (2011). Why youth leave care: Understandings of adulthood and transition successes and challenges among youth aging out of child welfare. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(6), 1039–1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.01.010.
Greenen, S., & Powers, L. E. (2007). Tomorrow is another problem”: The experiences of youth in foster care during their transition into adulthood. Children and Youth Services Review, 29(8), 1085–1101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2007.04.008.
Häggman-Laitila, A., Salokekkilä, P., & Karki, S. (2019). Young people’s preparedness for adult life and coping after foster care: A systematic review of perceptions and experiences in the transition period. Child & Youth Care Forum, 48(5), 633–661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-019-09499-4.
Hiles, D., Moss, D., Wright, J., & Dallos, R. (2013). Young people’s experience of social support during the process of leaving care: A review of the literature. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(12), 2059–2071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.10.008.
Jones, L. P. (2014). Former foster youth’s perspectives on independent living preparation six months after discharge. Child Welfare, 93(1), 99–126. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48623422.
Kaasbøll, J., Lassemo, E., Paulsen, V., Melby, L., & Osborg, S. O. (2019). Foster parents’ needs, perceptions and satisfaction with foster parent training: A systematic literature review. Children and Youth Services Review, 101, 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.03.041.
MacGregor, T. E., Rodger, S., Cummings, A. L., & Leschied, A. W. (2006). The needs of foster parents: A qualitative study of motivation, support, and retention. Qualitative Social Work, 5(3), 351–368. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325006067365.
Mallette, J. K., Almond, L., & Leonard, H. (2020). Fostering healthy families: An exploration of the informal and formal support needs of foster caregivers. Children and Youth Services Review, 110, 104760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104760.
Okpych, N. J. (2015). Receipt of independent living services among older youth in foster care: An analysis of national data from the US. Children and Youth Services Review, 51, 74–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.01.021.
Okpych, N. J., & Courtney, M. E. (2014). Does education pay for youth formerly in foster care? Comparison of employment outcomes with a national sample. Children and Youth Services Review, 43, 18–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.04.013.
Park, S. E., Powers, J., Okpych, N. J., & Courtney, M. E. (2020). Predictors of foster youths’ participation in their transitional independent living plan (TILP) development: Calling for collaborative case plan decision-making processes. Children and Youth Services Review, 115, 105051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105051.
Pecora, P. J., Kessler, R. C., O’Brien, K., White, C. R., Williams, J., Hiripi, E., & Herrick, M. A. (2006). Educational and employment outcomes of adults formerly placed in foster care: Results from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. Children and Youth Services Review, 28(12), 1459–1481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2006.04.003.
Radey, M., & Wilke, D. J. (2023). Extent, trajectory, and determinants of child welfare turnover and exit destinations. Children and Youth Services Review, 144, 106733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106733.
Saarnik, H. (2021). A systematic review of factors needed for successful Foster Placements: Perspectives from children and Foster Parents. Child & Youth Services, 42(4), 374–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2021.1926227.
Salazar, A. M., Spiers, S. S., & Pfister, F. R. (2021). Authentically engaging youth with foster care experience: Definitions and recommended strategies from youth and staff. Journal of Youth Studies, 24(8), 1015–1032. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2020.1792863.
Scannapieco, M., Connell-Carrick, K., & Painter, K. (2007). In their own words: Challenges facing youth aging out of foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 24(5), 423–435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-007-0093-x.
Sedivy, J. A., Rienks, S., Leake, R., & He, A. S. (2020). Expanding our understanding of the role of peer support in child welfare workforce retention. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 14(1), 80–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2019.1658020.
Shklarski, L. (2019). Foster parent skills and dilemmas. Child Welfare, 97(2), 41–62.
Storer, H. L., Barkan, S. E., Stenhouse, L. L., Eichenlaub, C., Mallillin, A., & Haggerty, K. P. (2014). In search of connection: The foster youth and caregiver relationship. Children and Youth Services Review, 42, 110–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.04.008.
Thompson, H. M., Wojciak, A. S., & Cooley, M. E. (2018). The experience with independent living services for youth in care and those formerly in care. Children and Youth Services Review, 84, 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.11.012.
United States General Accounting Office [GAO] (2003). HHS could play a greater role in helping child welfare agencies recruit and retain staff. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-03-357.
Wilke, D. J., Radey, M., King, E., Spinelli, C., Rakes, S., & Nolan, C. R. (2018). A multi-level conceptual model to examine child welfare worker turnover and retention decisions. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 12(2), 204–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2017.1373722.
Williams, K. A., Lewis, E. M., & Feely, M. (2023). Stay just a little bit longer: A scoping review of foster parent engagement in the US. Children and Youth Services Review, 106814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106814.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Lisa Magruder and Ms. Diamond Whitley for their contributions to the evaluation that provided the data presented in this manuscript.
Funding
This study was funded by the Florida Institute for Child Welfare.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors have no conflict of interest to report.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Henson, M., Schelbe, L. & Lee, H. Helping Youth in Foster Care Develop Life Skills: Perspectives from Caregivers, Child Welfare Professionals, and Agency Representatives. Child Youth Care Forum 53, 667–691 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-023-09766-5
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-023-09766-5