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Evaluating the My Life self-determination model for older youth in foster care: Establishing efficacy and exploring moderation of response to intervention

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  • Blakeslee, Jennifer E.
  • Powers, Laurie E.
  • Geenen, Sarah
  • Schmidt, Jessica
  • Nelson, May
  • Fullerton, Ann
  • George, Kevin
  • McHugh, Elizabeth
  • Bryant, Mary

Abstract

Limited rigorous research has been conducted to evaluate the impact of interventions designed to promote the successful transitions of young people exiting foster care. The current study builds on previous experimental evaluations of the My Life Model (MLM) for self-determination enhancement, which demonstrated effectiveness in improving educational and transition-to-adulthood outcomes for youth in foster care with disabilities, including those with mental health challenges. The model features one-on-one youth-directed coaching and near-peer mentoring to increase self-determination and goal achievement. The current study was the first to test the impact of the model with a diverse population-based cohort of youth aged 16.5-18.5 in foster care (N = 293), including those with and without disabilities, on key model outcome indicators of self-determination and self-efficacy. This study also explored potential moderation by disability status, trauma symptoms, placement stability, and placement restrictiveness. Findings show that, compared to the randomized control group, the treatment group had greater post-intervention and one-year follow-up gains on several indicators of self-determination. Moderation analysis demonstrated no difference in intervention effectiveness for youth with or without disabilities, suggesting the universality of this approach. Findings also suggest that foster youth participants with low-to-average risks in terms of placement stability, placement restrictiveness, and traumatic stress levels seem to benefit most from the intervention, although youth who are at higher risk due to placement instability, high placement restriction, and high traumatic stress still showed some benefit of participating in the intervention on some measures. My Life is one of only a few intervention models with experimental evidence of effectiveness with older youth in foster care. This validation study establishes that the approach has benefits for both youth with and without disabilities and provides the first information available on the influence of critical barriers facing many youth in care.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:119:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920311178
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Janette McDougall & Patricia Baldwin & Jan Evans & Megan Nichols & Cole Etherington & Virginia Wright, 2016. "Quality of Life and Self-Determination: Youth with Chronic Health Conditions Make the Connection," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(2), pages 571-599, June.
    2. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Del Quest, A. & Powers, Jennifer & Powers, Laurie E. & Geenen, Sarah & Nelson, May & Dalton, Lawrence D. & McHugh, Elizabeth, 2013. "Reaching everyone: Promoting the inclusion of youth with disabilities in evaluating foster care outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 1801-1808.
    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. Simmons-Horton, Sherri Y., 2017. "Providing age-appropriate activities for youth in foster care: Policy implementation process in three states," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 383-391.
    5. Pecora, Peter J. & Kessler, Ronald C. & O'Brien, Kirk & White, Catherine Roller & Williams, Jason & Hiripi, Eva & English, Diana & White, James & Herrick, Mary Anne, 2006. "Educational and employment outcomes of adults formerly placed in foster care: Results from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 1459-1481, December.
    6. Lee, Junghee & Powers, Laurie & Geenen, Sarah & Schmidt, Jessica & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Hwang, Insik, 2018. "Mental health outcomes among youth in foster care with disabilities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 27-34.
    7. Schmidt, Jessica & Dubey, Shanti & Dalton, Larry & Nelson, May & Lee, Junghee & Oberweiser Kennedy, Molly & Kim-Gervey, Connie & Powers, Laurie & Geenen, Sarah, 2015. "Who am I? Who do you think I am? Stability of racial/ethnic self-identification among youth in foster care and concordance with agency categorization," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 61-67.
    8. Pecora, Peter J., 2012. "Maximizing educational achievement of youth in foster care and alumni: Factors associated with success," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1121-1129.
    9. 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.
    10. Geenen, Sarah & Powers, Laurie E., 2007. ""Tomorrow is another problem": The experiences of youth in foster care during their transition into adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1085-1101, August.
    11. Gypen, Laura & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & De Maeyer, Skrallan & Belenger, Laurence & Van Holen, Frank, 2017. "Outcomes of children who grew up in foster care: Systematic-review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 74-83.
    12. 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.
    13. White, Tony & Scott, Lionel D. & Munson, Michelle R., 2018. "Extracurricular activity participation and educational outcomes among older youth transitioning from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1-8.
    14. Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Tan, Fei & Chacon, Alexi & Ortiz, Andrew J., 2020. "Interventions for youth aging out of foster care: A state of the science review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
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    1. 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).
    2. McCauley, Erin, 2021. "Differential risks: How disability shapes risk in the transition to adulthood for youth who age out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    3. Leathers, Sonya J. & Holtschneider, Casey & Ludington, Melissa & Ross, Ellen V. & Barnett, James L., 2023. "Mentoring, employment assistance, and enhanced staff outreach for older youth in care: Outcomes from a randomized controlled trial," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    4. Blakeslee, Jennifer & Miller, Rebecca & Uretsky, Mathew, 2022. "Efficacy of the Project Futures self-determination coaching model for college students with foster care backgrounds and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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