Natural mentoring among older youth in and aging out of foster care: A systematic review

Thompson, Allison E.; Greeson, Johanna K.P.; Brunsink, Ashleigh M.

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.12.006

Cited by 100 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Research also consistently highlights the important role of non-parental adults in improving transition outcomes for older foster youth (Ahrens et al, 2011; Geenen & Powers, 2007; Greeson & Bowen, 2008; Gypen, et al, 2017; Munson & McMillen, 2009; Thompson, Greeson, & Brunsink, 2016), and studies focus on the presence of informal relationships to help bridge the expected shift from formal to informal support resources as services end (Greeson & Thompson, 2017; Jones, 2013; Nesmith & Christophersen, 2014; Singer, Berzin, & Hokanson, 2016; Paulson & Berg, 2016). Yet, long-term foster care leaves a subgroup of emancipating youth disconnected from informal relationships, disengaged from institutions and services, and disillusioned with the child welfare system (e.g., Keller et al, 2007), just as they are being encouraged by the child welfare system to actively participate in planning for their transition into independence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies

Blakeslee

Best

2019

Children and Youth Services Review

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This study explores how foster care experiences can impact support network functionality as young people exit the foster care system. This can be conceptualized as a function of both network member capacity to provide adequate support to address young adult needs, and network stability, which reflects cohesion within and across relationships to facilitate consistent support over time. We conducted support network mapping and semi-structured interviews with youth in foster care aged 16-20 (N=22) and used theoretical thematic analysis to explore support barriers and facilitators in relation to the organizing concepts of support capacity and network stability. Overall, support capacity was limited by interpersonal difficulties inhibiting the presence and supportiveness of some network members (including family members, informal peer and community-based connections, and caseworkers), whereas network stability facilitated multidimensional support through strong and interconnected relationships with caregivers and service providers. Emergent network patterns reflected distinct subgroups of more and less functional support networks, and strategies for network enhancement focus on promoting youth-directed services and support, developing youth skills and opportunities to invest in informal relationships, and using network assessment to identify unmet support needs. Findings advance a framework for understanding how foster care impacts support network characteristics, and inform ongoing efforts to address resulting limitations through services and programming.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies

Blakeslee

Best

2019

Children and Youth Services Review

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“…The findings inform practice and policy. Regarding practice, mothers ageing out can benefit from multifaceted, evidenced-based, mentoring programs that prioritize relationship building and sustainable relationships (Spencer, Collins, Ward, & Smashnaya, 2010;Thompson et al 2016). Findings from a recent social support intervention with youth in independent living programs indicated a decline in social support over the transition to adulthood and no difference between treatment and control groups (Greeson et al 2015a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Me, myself and I: perceptions of social capital for mothers ageing out of the child welfare system

Radey

Schelbe

McWey

et al. 2016

Child & Family Social Work

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Youth ageing out of the child welfare system become parents at rates two to three times higher than their non‐child welfare system involved peers. Substantial literature acknowledges that youth ageing out who are parenting are vulnerable; yet, little is known about their lived experiences. Social capital, or the actual or potential resources available from one's network, can provide essential resources for the wellbeing of parents ageing out. This qualitative study examined social capital of mothers ageing out from the perspectives of both mothers and service providers. We conducted small group interviews with 13 mothers ageing out and 14 service providers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed the use of a social capital framework delineates that mothers lacked beneficial social relationships and, consequently, support. A lack of trust coupled with a desire to break intergenerational patterns and norms contributed to understanding why mothers ageing out may not capitalize on resources that providers often considered available. Based on findings, we conclude that providing mothers ageing out with additional opportunities to develop trust, positive relationships with mentors and extended services may help to disrupt intergenerational patterns of maltreatment and promote child and family wellbeing.

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“…Natural mentors can be an especially powerful mentor option for foster youth (Schwartz, Rhodes, Spencer, & Grossman, 2013; Thompson, Greeson, & Brunsink, 2016)…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Fostering Higher Education: A postsecondary access and retention intervention for youth with foster care experience

Salazar

Haggerty

Roe

2016

Children and Youth Services Review

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Most youth in foster care aspire to obtain higher education, but face daunting obstacles in doing so. While societal interest and effort to support foster youth in achieving higher education has grown, very few supports have evidence to show that they are effective at improving postsecondary outcomes. In an effort to address the dearth of clearly articulated, evidence-based postsecondary support approaches for foster youth, we have developed Fostering Higher Education (FHE), a comprehensive, structured, and evaluable postsecondary access and retention intervention composed of elements (professional educational advocacy, substance abuse prevention, mentoring) that are either evidence based or promising based on the scientific literature and their ability to address the outcomes of interest. This paper describes the development and youth usability and practitioner feasibility testing of the FHE intervention approach, which was developed through funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Youth usability feedback was primarily positive, with the majority of participants indicating they found the FHE activities interesting and useful, and were comfortable participating in them. Practitioner feasibility feedback was also primarily positive, with almost unanimous ratings of the FHE intervention components as very important to provide to youth and that all would be feasible for an organization to implement, though the mentoring components were seen as slightly less feasible than other components. Next steps and implications of this intervention development process are discussed.

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Natural mentoring among older youth in and aging out of foster care: A systematic review

Cited by 100 publications

References 39 publications

Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies

Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies

Me, myself and I: perceptions of social capital for mothers ageing out of the child welfare system

Fostering Higher Education: A postsecondary access and retention intervention for youth with foster care experience

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