Evaluating the impact of camp-based reunification on the resilience of siblings separated by foster care

Levels of agreement between youth in out‐of‐home care and key adults' ratings of sibling and peer relationships: The impact of respondent characteristics and associations to youth resilience

“…The current study is a cross-sectional analysis of survey data that were collected from legally authorized representatives (e.g., caseworkers and caregivers) and youth who were participants in a camp-based positive youth development programme for siblings separated by foster care (Waid & Wojciak, 2017;Waid & Wojciak, 2019). Data were collected from key adults in seven states in the United States via a secure web-based platform.…”

What makes summer camp therapeutic for siblings separated by out-of-home care? Associations from counselor ratings of program implementation to youth-reported outcomes

“…Camp To Belong can best be described as a positive youth development program (Waid & Uhrich, 2019) in that it is multidimensional, provides youth with enabling environment to engage in developmental opportunities, focuses on cultivating youth’s strengths, assets, and agency, and provides opportunities for co-creation, participation, and contribution (Alvarado et al, 2017; Catalano et al, 2002; Hinson et al, 2016). Prior multisite evaluations of the program have identified significant pre-test post-test improvements to youth resilience, reductions in sibling conflict, and increases in sibling support during youth’s time at camp (Waid & Wojciak, 2017, 2019).…”

“…Based on prior evaluations of Camp To Belong (Waid & Wojciak, 2017, 2019) we hypothesized youth would report high post-test rating of belonging, pre-test post-test increases in resilience and sibling support, and pre-test post-test reductions in sibling conflict while at camp. We also hypothesized counselors would report high ratings of program implementation across key domains (i.e., high ratings for the enabling environment, rotational activities and signature events, counselor satisfaction, and low ratings for critical events).…”

“…Increased legislative attention to the needs of siblings in out-of-home (Children Act, 1989, Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, 2008) care has resulted in a proliferation of sibling-focused programs and services. Only a small number of these programs have empirical support, however (Kothari et al, 2017; Linares et al, 2015; Waid & Wojciak, 2017, 2019), and little is known about how these programs work to improve youth outcomes. To strengthen services for siblings in out-of-home care, it is important for researchers and practitioners to better understand how and under what conditions sibling-focused programs work.…”

“…The mission of the organization is to provide siblings with opportunities to strengthen the sibling relationship, create lasting memories, foster a sense of belonging by normalizing the experiences and feelings associated with placement into out-of-home care, and strengthen youth resilience and self-advocacy (Camp To Belong, 2021). The program is manualized and includes typical summer camp experiences and eight signature events (Waid & Wojciak, 2017, 2019). Camp To Belong can best be described as a positive youth development program (Waid & Uhrich, 2019) in that it is multidimensional, provides youth with enabling environment to engage in developmental opportunities, focuses on cultivating youth’s strengths, assets, and agency, and provides opportunities for co-creation, participation, and contribution (Alvarado et al, 2017; Catalano et al, 2002; Hinson et al, 2016).…”