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Associations between leaving out-of-home care, post-transition support, and psychosocial outcomes

Associations between leaving out-of-home care, post-transition support, and psychosocial outcomes. Ms. Jess Heerde , Dr. Kirsty Scholes-Balog , Ms. Michelle Tollit , Professor Sheryl Hemphill Senior Proven Researcher Team (Psychology) Australian Catholic University (03) 9953 3123

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Associations between leaving out-of-home care, post-transition support, and psychosocial outcomes

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  1. Associations between leaving out-of-home care, post-transition support, and psychosocial outcomes

    Ms. Jess Heerde, Dr. KirstyScholes-Balog, Ms. Michelle Tollit, Professor Sheryl Hemphill Senior Proven Researcher Team (Psychology) Australian Catholic University (03) 9953 3123 jessica.heerde@acu.edu.au
  2. Overview Defining out-of-home care and transition programs Context of out-of-home care Post-transition homelessness Review: transition programs and psychosocial outcomes Implications & further research
  3. Defining out-of-home care Youth <18 years Require alternate living arrangement to the biological family Residential care, family group homes, home-based care, independent living (e.g. Boarding house), foster care, relative/kinship care, other (e.g. Boarding school, military) Foster care (government authorised placement) Youth completing custodial settings (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012)
  4. Defining transition programs Assist preparing for independent living Limit disadvantage and adverse outcomes Group formats with individual support Skill development (education, employment, suitable housing, daily living, personal development) Independent living programs, transitional living programs, transitional housing programs, housing-based independent living programs, residential education programs (Donkoh, et al. 2006; Geenen & Powers, 2007)
  5. Context of out-of home care Australia Transition between 15-17 years Comprise 32% of all transitioning youth Ambiguity in transitional processes & limited support Limited transitional program participation (Johnson, et al., 2009; Mendes, 2005). United States Transition between 16-18 years Ambiguity in transitional processes Expectation of transition program participation Limited transitional program participation (30%) (Atkinson, 2008; Avery, 2010)
  6. A vulnerable population group Childhood trauma & family breakdown Early compared to population youth Less positive relationships with trusted adults Susceptibility to adverse outcomes Critical developmental transition Secondary & higher education Employment Social and economic independence from the family unit
  7. Post-transition homelessness Post-transition homelessness common Prior or current homelessness Temporary housing Variation in rates of post-transition homelessness or housing instability e.g. 10% to 52%(Courtney et al., 2001; Lindsey and Ahmed, 1999). Major findings Transition associated with homelessness & housing instability Transitional programs may mitigate adverse outcomes
  8. Locating studies of transition programs & post-transition outcomes Systematic review the types and prevalence of outcomes associations between participation in transitional programs and post-transition outcomes Sociology, social work, psychology, health Key terms: ‘foster home care’, ‘transition’, ‘mental health’, ‘housing’, ‘education’, ‘employment’ Chronological age Baseline age 15-24 years
  9. Types and prevalence of psychosocialoutcomes Comparison of participants and non-participants Participants (higher rates) Contact with caseworkers Independent living Housing stability Employment (incl. Hourly wage) Education Other studies suggest no difference on these outcomes Employment, homelessness, education (Lemon et al., 2005; Lindsey and Ahmed, 1999; Rashid, 2004)
  10. Associations between transition programs and psychosocial outcomes Few studies investigating predictive associations Mixed findings Pecora et al. (2006): more likely to report completion of high school Mares and Kroner (2011): longer length of placement associated with obtaining employment, and attaining and sustaining suitable independent housing. But, less likely to complete high school
  11. What does it all mean? Under-researched area Cross-sectional studies Lower levels of skills needed for successful transition e.g. Employment, housing Transitional programs may mitigate this in some cases but not others e.g. Skills development, provision of support
  12. Implications and further research Why are some programs effective and others not? Program characteristics and factors contributing to improved outcomes Implement and pilot transitional programs Uniform transition processes Potentially including transitional programs
  13. References Atkinson M. Aging out of foster care: towards a universal safety new for former foster care youth. Harvard Civil Rights - Civial Liberties Law Review 2008;43:183-212. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2012). Child protection Australian 2010-11. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Avery RJ. An examination of theory and promising practice for achieving permanency for teens before they age out of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review 2010;32(3):399-408. Courtney ME, Piliavin I, Grogan-Kaylor A, et al. Foster youth transitions to adulthood: A longitudinal view of youth leaving care. Child Welfare 2001;80(6):685-717. Donkoh C, Underhill K, Montgomery P. Independent living programmes for improving outcomes for young people leaving the care system: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006. Geenen S, Powers LE. "Tomorrow is another problem" The experiences of youth in foster care during their transition into adulthood. Children & Youth Services Review 2007;29(8):1085-1101. Heerde JA, Hemphill SA, Broderick D, et al. Associations between leaving out-of-home care and post-transition youth homelessness: A review. Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal 2012;32:35-52 Johnson G, Natalier K, Bailey N, et al. Improving housing outcomes for young people leaving state out of home care. Victoria: Australian Housing and Urban Research Centre; 2009. Lemon K, Hines AM, Merdinger J. From foster care to young adulthood: The role of independent living programs in supporting successful transitions. Children and Youth Services Review 2005;27:251-270. Lindsey EW, Ahmed FU. The North Carolina Independent Living Program: A comparison of outcomes for participants and nonparticipants. Children and Youth Services Review 1999;21(5):389-412 Mendes P. From state care to independence: A comparison of the Australian and American leaving care debates. The Social Policy Journal 2005;4(1):51-63. Pecora PJ, Kessler RC, O'Brien K, et al. Educational and employment outcomes of adults formerly placed in foster care: Results from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. Children and Youth Services Review 2006;28(12):1459-1481. Mares AS, Kroner MJ. Lighthouse Independent Living Program: Predictors of client outcomes at discharge. Children & Youth Services Review 2011;33(9):1749-1758. Rashid S. Evaluating a transitional living program for homeless, former foster care youth. Research on Social Work Practice 2004;14(4):240-248.
  14. Contact details Ms. Jess Heerde Post-Doctoral Research Associate Senior Proven Researcher Team (Psychology) School of Psychology Australian Catholic University Ph: (03) 9953 3123 jessica.heerde@acu.edu.au
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