Social and Psychological Adjustment in Foster Care Alumni: Education and Employment

912

Abstract

The article analyses issues in social and psychological adjustment of young adults, grown up in foster families. The psychological and socio-pedagogical factors facilitating professional education, successful employment and financial independence are emphasized. The methods and results of several large simple design researches of adjustment in foster care alumni, conducted in USA, are described. Recommendations for services and specialists working with young adults leaving state care are provided.

General Information

Keywords: socio-psychological adjustment, resilience, fosters families, young adults leaving state care, independent living programs, mentoring, employment counseling

Journal rubric: Social Psychology

Article type: review article

For citation: Archakova T.O. Social and Psychological Adjustment in Foster Care Alumni: Education and Employment [Elektronnyi resurs]. Sovremennaia zarubezhnaia psikhologiia = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 2014. Vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 92–106. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

Bobyleva I.A. Professional'noe samoopredelenie detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei [Professional self-determination of children without parental care]. Voprosy psikhicheskogo zdorov'ya detei i podrostkov [Mental health issues of children and adolescents], 2006. Vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 91–99. (In Russ.)

Arnett J.J. Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 2000. Vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 469–480.

Assessing the effect of foster care: early results from the Casey national alumni study. Pecora P.J., Williams J., Kessler R.C., Downs A.C., O’Brien K., Hiripi E. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Program. 2003. 57 p.

Employment outcomes for youth aging out of foster care: final Reports. Goerge R.M., Bilaver L., Lee B.J., Needell B., Brookhart A., Jackman W. Chicago, IL.: Chapin Hall Center for Children, 2002. Available at: http:..aspe.hhs.gov.hsp.fostercare-agingout02. (Accessed: 15.01.2014).

Geenen S., Powers L.E. «Tomorrow is another problem»: the experiences of youth in foster care in transition into adulthood. Children and Youth Services Review, 2007. Vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 1085−1101.

Greeson J.K.P. Foster Youth and the Transition to Adulthood: the Theoretical and Conceptual Basis for Natural Mentoring. Emerging Adulthood, 2013. Vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 40–51.

Greeson J.K.P., Usher L., Grinstein-Weiss M. One adult who is crazy about you: can natural mentoring relationships increase assets among young adults with and without foster care experience? Children and Youth Services Review, 2010. Vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 565–577. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.12.003.

How Effective Are Mentoring Programs for Youth? A Systematic Assessment of the Evidence. DuBois D.L., Portillo N., Rhodes J.E., Silverthorn N., Valentine J.C. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2011. Vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 57–91.

Improving family foster care: findings from the Northwest foster care alumni study. Pecora P.J., Kessler R.C., Williams J., O’Brien K., Downs A.C., English D. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Program. 2005. 68 p.

Improving Transition Outcomes for Marginalized Youth Career. Gil-Kashiwabara E., Hogansen J.M., Geenen S., Powers K., Powers L.E. Development for Exceptional Individuals, 2007. Vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 80–91.

Keller T., Cusick G.R., Courtney M.E. Approaching the transition to adulthood: distinctive profiles of adolescents aging out of the child welfare system. Social Service Review, 2007. Vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 453–484. doi: 10.1086/519536.

Lenz-Rashid S. Employment experiences of young adults: are they different for youth with a history of foster care? Children and Youth Services Review, 2006. Vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 235−259. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2005.03.006.

Leventhal T., Graber J.A., Brooks-Gunn J. Adolescent transitions to young adulthood: antecedents, correlates, and consequences of adolescent employment, Journal of Research on Adolescence. 2001. Vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 297−323. doi: 10.1111/1532-7795.00014.

Massinga R., Pecora P.J. Providing better opportunities for older children in the child welfare system. The Future of Children: Children, Families and Foster Care, 2004. Vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 151–173.

Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 21. Courtney M. E., Dworsky A., Cusick G.R., Havlicek J., Perez, A., Keller T. Chicago: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, 2007. 96 p.

Oldmixon S., Eyster L. State Policies to Help Youth Transition Out of Foster Care. Washington, DC: NGA Center for Best Practices, 2007. 24 p.

Scannapieco M., Connell-Carrick K., Painter K. In their own words: challenges facing youth aging out of foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2007. Vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 423−435.

The Composite International Diagnostic Interview: an epidemiologic instrument suitable for use in conjunction with different diagnostic systems and in different cultures. Robins L.N., Wing J., Wittchen H.-U., Helzer J.E., Babor T.F., Burke J., Farmer A., Jablensky A., Pickens R., Regier D.A., Sartorius N., Towle L.H. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1989. Vol. 45, no. 12, pp. 1069–1077. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800360017003.

Ware J.E., Kosinski M., Keller S.D. SF-12: How to Score the SF-12 Physical and Mental Health Summary Scales. 4th ed. Boston: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, 2002. 101 p.

Yates T.M., Grey I.K. Adapting to aging out: profiles of risk and resilience among emancipated foster youth. Development and Psychopathology, 2012. Vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 475–492. doi: 10.1017/S0954579412000107.

Information About the Authors

Tatyana O. Archakova, Psychologist and Methodologist, Charity Child Foundation “Victoria”, Charity Foundation “Volunteers to Help Orphans”, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6161-2946, e-mail: tatyana.archakova@gmail.com

Metrics

Views

Total: 3232
Previous month: 4
Current month: 1

Downloads

Total: 912
Previous month: 2
Current month: 1