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Perspectives of youth in foster care on essential ingredients for promoting self-determination and successful transition to adult life: My life model

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  • Powers, Laurie E.
  • Fullerton, Ann
  • Schmidt, Jessica
  • Geenen, Sarah
  • Oberweiser-Kennedy, Molly
  • Dohn, JoAnn
  • Nelson, May
  • Iavanditti, Rosemary
  • Blakeslee, Jennifer

Abstract

Research clearly documents the serious challenges and poor outcomes experienced by many young people exiting foster care, as well as compounded disparities for the high percentage of youth in care who are identified with disabilities and/or mental health challenges. However, very little research has been conducted to specify or validate effective models for improving the transition trajectories of youth exiting care. Evidence suggests the My Life self-determination enhancement model offers a promising approach for supporting youths' self-determined and positive transition to adulthood. The model includes youth-directed, experientially oriented coaching in the application of self-determination skills to achieve youth-identified transition goals, coupled with peer mentoring workshops that provide opportunities for learning, networking and fun. This in depth qualitative study of 10 youth who completed the My Life intervention focused on investigating coaching and mentoring elements and processes that youth participants identify as most important to their success, with the intention of informing the further development of youth-directed approaches to supporting young people who are transitioning to adulthood. Themes emerged around the centrality of youth self-direction, important processes in the coaching relationship, the essential value of experiential activities and self-determination skill development, and peer mentoring experiences that youth identified as fostering their success. Implications are discussed for research and practice in supporting youth exiting foster care.

Suggested Citation

  • Powers, Laurie E. & Fullerton, Ann & Schmidt, Jessica & Geenen, Sarah & Oberweiser-Kennedy, Molly & Dohn, JoAnn & Nelson, May & Iavanditti, Rosemary & Blakeslee, Jennifer, 2018. "Perspectives of youth in foster care on essential ingredients for promoting self-determination and successful transition to adult life: My life model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 277-286.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:86:y:2018:i:c:p:277-286
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mech, Edmund V. & Ludy-Dobson, Christine & Hulseman, Frances Spann, 1994. "Life-skills knowledge: A survey of foster adolescents in three placement settings," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(3-4), pages 181-200.
    2. Day, Angelique & Riebschleger, Joanne & Dworsky, Amy & Damashek, Amy & Fogarty, Kieran, 2012. "Maximizing educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care by engaging youth voices in a partnership for social change," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1007-1014.
    3. Phillips, Lee Ann & Powers, Laurie E. & Geenen, Sarah & Schmidt, Jessica & Winges-Yanez, Nichole & McNeely, Isha Charlie & Merritt, Lindsay & Williamson, Candis & Turner, Shannon & Zweben, Harry & Bod, 2015. "Better Futures: A validated model for increasing postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 50-59.
    4. Dworsky, Amy & Pérez, Alfred, 2010. "Helping former foster youth graduate from college through campus support programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 255-263, February.
    5. Powers, Laurie E. & Geenen, Sarah & Powers, Jennifer & Pommier-Satya, Summer & Turner, Alison & Dalton, Lawrence D. & Drummond, Diann & Swank, Paul, 2012. "My Life: Effects of a longitudinal, randomized study of self-determination enhancement on the transition outcomes of youth in foster care and special education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2179-2187.
    6. Singer, Erin Rebecca & Berzin, Stephanie Cosner & Hokanson, Kim, 2013. "Voices of former foster youth: Supportive relationships in the transition to adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2110-2117.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gunawardena, Nathali & Stich, Christine, 2021. "Interventions for young people aging out of the child welfare system: A systematic literature review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    2. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Best, Jared I., 2019. "Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 220-230.
    3. Liang, Alicia & Lashewicz, Bonnie & Mitchell, Jennifer & Smith, Walter, 2021. "Mixed perceptions of self-determination: Struggles facing youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    4. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Powers, Laurie E. & Geenen, Sarah & Schmidt, Jessica & Nelson, May & Fullerton, Ann & George, Kevin & McHugh, Elizabeth & Bryant, Mary, 2020. "Evaluating the My Life self-determination model for older youth in foster care: Establishing efficacy and exploring moderation of response to intervention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. Fernández-Simo, Deibe & Victoria Carrera-Fernández, María & Manuel Cid-Fernández, Xosé & Correia Campos, Edgar, 2023. "The time and community dimensions in socio-educational intervention strategies with adolescents in care during the transition to adult life," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Klodnick, Vanessa V. & Johnson, Rebecca P. & Morris, Cory & Cohen, Deborah A. & Sapiro, Beth & Schneider, Ava & Fagan, Marc A., 2021. "Shifting from receiver to provider: Aging out of semi-institutional child welfare settings with serious mental health diagnoses," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    7. Olsson, Tina M & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Bergström, Martin & Skoog, Therése, 2020. "Exploring fit for the cultural adaptation of a self-determination model for youth transitioning from out-of-home care: A comparison of a sample of Swedish youth with two samples of American youth in o," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Gazit, Matan & Perry-Hazan, Lotem, 2020. "Disadvantaged youth’s participation in collective decision making," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    9. Nagpaul, Tania & Chen, Jinwen, 2019. "Self-determination theory as a Framework for understanding needs of youth at-risk: Perspectives of social service professionals and the youth themselves," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 328-342.
    10. Sapiro, Beth, 2020. "Assessing trustworthiness: Marginalized youth and the central relational paradox in treatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).

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