Urada, L. (2007). Pre-emancipation outcomes for foster youth: Do mentoring, group and individual counseling help? SSWR conference abstract submission.

Purpose: Nationwide, adolescent foster youth face problems with money management, accessing medical care, family relationships, physical victimization, incarceration, and homelessness after emancipation (Courtney, et al., 2001). Nearly 49% of emancipated foster youth had psychological disorders, and 53% had developmental problems (English & Grasso, 2000). Emancipated foster youth had limited educational attainments, low reading scores, special education classes, depression, anxiety, and anger expressed through physical violence, and illegal substance use in another study (Shin et al, 2002). Socialization, cultural, or recreational services for foster youth before emancipation were not offered despite 44% of youth diagnosed with at least one disability and 17 percent attempting suicide (Loman, et al, 2000). Less than one-third of foster care programs in another study offered vocational training or computer classes (Sheehy, et al, 2001). Some risk factors might be associated with delays in permanency (Connell, et. al., 2006) and an absence of mentors and other support systems before emancipation.

A program that supports pre-emancipating foster youth supportively through interdependent networking is a joint project of a child protective services' (CPS) agency and a university-based center on child welfare in a major metropolitan city. The program targets youth at-risk for long term foster care and who live in a section of the city with high poverty, HIV/AIDS, and crime rates. Approximately thirty youth engage voluntarily in weekly therapeutic groups, outings, and intensive individual and family clinical case management for up to three years, until they reach 16 years old.  This study determines whether the program's interventions increase the likelihood that youth achieve positive outcomes and support before they emancipate from foster care.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study presents baseline data from 80 foster youth. Twenty-four youth who completed the intervention program (during years 2002-2006) were compared to a comparison group of 56 foster youth, ages 16 and over, matched with similar characteristics of the intervention group. The comparison group was randomly selected from a list of youth with matching characteristics and from a comparable CPS office. Baseline case record data were extracted to ensure comparability of samples. Individual interviews were conducted in the youth's homes. Structured questionnaires measured various outcomes and perceptions, pre- and post-emancipation, including in-depth questions. Measures involved scales from Brandford, C. & English, D. (2004), Nollan, et al (2000), Ansell-Casey Independent Living Skills Assessment, a Coping Scale, and a Depression Inventory. Descriptive and t-test statistics were performed.

Results: The intervention group found group counseling significantly more helpful than the comparison group (t=2.24, df=38, p<.031).  With groups combined, those youth with mentors compared tothosewithoutmentorsfoundgroupcounseling(t=2.42,df= 35,p<.021)andindividualcounseling(t=2.22,df= 59,p<.030)morehelpful,reportedbeingmore"happy"(t=3.31,df= 67,p<.002), and perceived that "their life had beenafailure"toalesserdegree(t=2.00,df=71, p<.049).  

Implications: The data provide findings that may improve the care for adolescent youth aging out of foster care who live in high risk neighborhoods.  The author discusses the findings in terms of the "real-world" applicability of this psychosocial intervention, and presents implications for social work practice and research.