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Acknowledgements

Purpose of Dissertation. To identify personal and interpersonal factors that contribute to resilience of young adults who left out-of- home careTo explore relationship between resilience and perceived levels of stress, social support, spiritual support, community support, and differences based on

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Acknowledgements

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    1. Acknowledgements This study is a secondary analysis of an original study conducted by the Center for Families at the University of Maryland School of Social Work in collaboration with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

    2. Purpose of Dissertation To identify personal and interpersonal factors that contribute to resilience of young adults who left out-of- home care To explore relationship between resilience and perceived levels of stress, social support, spiritual support, community support, and differences based on gender

    3. Background Young adults in transition are a vulnerable sub-population of child welfare system Challenges associated with maltreatment (Bagley & Mallick, 2000; Cohen, Brown, & Smailes, 2001; Fergusson & Lynskey, 1997; Silverman, Reinherz, & Giaconia, 1996) Challenges associated with out-of-home care (Courtney & Barth, 1996; Jonson & Reid, 2000) Overrepresentation of children of color (Sedlak & Broadhurst, 1996; Roberts, 2002) Challenges associated with poverty (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997; Duncan & Brooks-Gunn, 2000) Interestingly, despite these challenges, not all youth have negative outcomesmany are resilient in face of adversity. The question then is what factors in their lives may be associated with positive outcomes?Interestingly, despite these challenges, not all youth have negative outcomesmany are resilient in face of adversity. The question then is what factors in their lives may be associated with positive outcomes?

    4. Significance of Studying Resilience Young adults are a vulnerable group; identification of factors related to overcoming adversity is important Resilience viewed as developmental process (Cicchetti & Garmezy, 1993; Luthar, Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000); period of transition is critical developmental stage Resilience research indicates positive relationship between social support and resilience (Masten & Coatsworth, 1998; Werner & Smith, 1992), but this relationship understudied among transitioning adults

    5. Research Questions 1. What functions of social support do young adults perceive as available to them? 2. Does the young adults perceived availability of support from family members versus friends differ? 3. To what degree do young adults demonstrate resilience? 4. Do personal factors and interpersonal factors relate to degree of resilience?

    6. Theoretical Framework Ecological Model Human development is life course representing individual pathways (Germain & Gitterman, 1996, p. 21) Interchange of supports exists between individual and environment Resilience Theory Resilience: dynamic process encompassing positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity (Luthar et al., 2000) Protective mechanisms assist youth to overcome adversity Cultural Competence Perspective Important to understand social/political/cultural context of challenges and strengths of youth in transition Facilitates interpretation of findings and implications for research, policy, and practice

    7. Conceptual Model of Resilience Illustrates the complex array of interrelated factors that influence youth Two-way arrows signify interactive nature of risk and protective factorsIllustrates the complex array of interrelated factors that influence youth Two-way arrows signify interactive nature of risk and protective factors

    8. Methodology Secondary data analysis of an original study conducted by Center for Families at University of Maryland School of Social Work in collaboration with BCDSS (DePanfilis & Daining, 2003) Original study used a single cross-sectional research design to collect data about a sample of young adults who aged out of care

    9. Study Site - Baltimore City, Maryland Large urban area in Mid-Atlantic region of U.S. Population of 651,210 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000) Approximately 11% between ages of 18 to 24 64% of Baltimore City is African American Sample Universe (N=189) All youth (age 18 to 24) who left foster care or kinship care between October 1, 1999 and September 30, 2000

    10. Procedures Recruitment Invitation letter mailed to eligible participants Interviews offered at 3 locations Home BCDSS local office Center for Families research office Data Collection Self-administered computer-assisted interview Five trained research staff facilitated interviews Followed standardized procedures outlined in manual Supervised by project manager

    11. Eligibility of Interview Participants Total N = 189 Ineligible = 18 (9.5%) 3 deceased = 14 incarcerated = 1 institutionalized = 171 individuals were eligible for the interview I supervised these interviewers closely to ensure data integrityI supervised these interviewers closely to ensure data integrity

    12. Participation Rates N = 171 Interviews between April 2002 and February 2003 103 Participated = 15 Non-Responsive = 7 Refused = 46 Not Located = 82.4% were interviewed of those located

    13. 65% Female 90% African American 87% Never Married Interview Sample: Demographics Of those we were able to interviewOf those we were able to interview

    14. Resilience measured by composite score reflecting seven outcome domains: work status high school (or equivalent) participation advanced education participation avoidance of early parenthood housing stability avoidance of drug use avoidance of criminal activity Measure of Dependent Variable

    15. Measures of Independent Variables

    16. Data Analysis Plan Multiple Regression Analysis Dependent Variable: Degree of resilience Covariates: Age and Gender Independent Variables: Level of perceived global life stress Level of perceived social support from family Level of perceived social support from friends Level of perceived spiritual support Level of perceived social embeddedness Level of perceived sense of community Current status: Proposal defended in December 2003 and presently conducting data analyses To test whether personal factors (gender, stress, and spiritual support) and interpersonal factors (perceived social support, and community support) are associated with degree of resilience To test whether personal factors (gender, stress, and spiritual support) and interpersonal factors (perceived social support, and community support) are associated with degree of resilience

    17. Study Limitations Cross-sectional design prohibits causal inference 60% response rate means differences between respondents and nonrespondents may bias results Study population from one city limits generalizability of study findings There has been limited research done that tests validity of measures used with African American population

    18. Study Strengths Use of self-administered computer-assisted interview may decrease response bias Use of standardized measures with known reliability and validity increases likelihood that results will represent constructs under study

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