Publication year: 2011
Source: Children and Youth Services Review, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 1 February 2011
Kym R., Ahrens , David Lane, DuBois , Michelle, Garrison , Renee, Spencer , Laura P., Richardson , …
Foster youth are at risk of poor adult outcomes. Research on the role of mentoring relationships for this population suggests the value of strategies that increase their access to adult sources of support, both while in foster care and as they reach adulthood. We conducted semi-structured, individual qualitative interviews with 23 former foster youth ages 18-25 regarding their relationships with supportive non-parental adults. We sought to identify factors that influence the formation, quality, and duration of these relationships and to develop testable hypotheses for intervention strategies. Findings suggest several themes related to relationship formation with non-parental adults, including barriers (e.g.,…
Research Highlights: ►Former foster youth in this study describe a range of positive impacts from their relationships with non-parental adults. ►Barriers and facilitators of these relationships were also highlighted; factors influencing whether youth in foster care develop relationships with potential support figures appear to be distinct from those shaping the quality and longevity of such relationships once established. ►Several strategies to better capitalize on non-parental adults as sources of support for foster care youth are proposed, including incorporation of such adults into transition planning and improved procedures for both mentor training and youth-mentor matching in formal mentoring programs serving this population.