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Re-orienting narratives of moral injury towards positive development: The experiences of emerging adults with child welfare histories

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  • Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth
  • Haight, Wendy
  • Nashandi, Ndilimeke J.C.
  • Cho, Minhae
  • Suleiman, Johara
  • Park, Sookyoung

Abstract

This paper is the second in a series of papers from a mixed methods study examining moral injury in childhood and adolescence as described by emerging adults with histories of child welfare involvement. This paper focuses on the ways emerging adultsmay alleviate their moral injury, grow and develop.Twenty -eight emerging adults (18–26 years) who reported exposure to morally injurious events during childhood or adolescence on a modified version of the Moral Injury Events Scale(MIES; Nash et al., 2013)participated in life story interviews. Life story analyses of psychosocial contexts considered resiliency, especially any re-orientation of participants’ narratives of moral injury away from the anomie, guilt, shame, and rage characteristic of moral injury, and towards themes such as hope, forgiveness, and gratitude. In addition, psychosocial-spiritual contexts that may support these shifts in meaning were explored through thematic analyses. Findings indicate that supportive relationships, especially with caring adults, engagement with spirituality, and access to prosocial activities provide foster youth with opportunities to re-orient their moral injury narratives, and provide a foundation on which to build towards recovery. Implications for policy, practice and research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth & Haight, Wendy & Nashandi, Ndilimeke J.C. & Cho, Minhae & Suleiman, Johara & Park, Sookyoung, 2023. "Re-orienting narratives of moral injury towards positive development: The experiences of emerging adults with child welfare histories," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:149:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923001172
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106922
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth & Haight, Wendy & Jader, Bailey, 2020. "Parent mentoring relationships as a vehicle for reducing racial disparities: Experiences of child welfare-involved parents, mentors and professionals," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Shook, Jeffrey J. & Goodkind, Sara & Herring, David & Pohlig, Ryan T. & Kolivoski, Karen & Kim, Kevin H., 2013. "How different are their experiences and outcomes? Comparing aged out and other child welfare involved youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 11-18.
    3. Thompson, Allison E. & Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Brunsink, Ashleigh M., 2016. "Natural mentoring among older youth in and aging out of foster care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 40-50.
    4. Haight, Wendy & Cho, Minhae & Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth & Nashandi, Ndilimeke J.C. & Suleiman, Johara, 2022. "Moral injury experienced by emerging adults with child welfare histories in developmental and sociocultural contexts: “I knew the system was broken.”," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    5. Colacchio Wesley, Bridget & Pryce, Julia & Barry, Johanna & Hong, Philip Young P., 2020. "Steadfast benevolence: A new framework for understanding important adult-youth relationships for adolescents in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    6. Gowdy, Grace & Hogan, Sean, 2021. "Informal mentoring among foster youth entering higher education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    7. Haight, Wendy & Korang-Okrah, Rose & Black, James E. & Gibson, Priscilla & Nashandi, Ndilimeke J.C., 2020. "Moral injury among Akan women: Lessons for culturally sensitive child welfare interventions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    8. Haight, Wendy & Sugrue, Erin P. & Calhoun, Molly, 2017. "Moral injury among Child Protection Professionals: Implications for the ethical treatment and retention of workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 27-41.
    9. Westbrook, Tonya M. & Ellett, Alberta J. & Asberg, Kia, 2012. "Predicting public child welfare employees' intentions to remain employed with the child welfare organizational culture inventory," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1214-1221.
    10. 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.
    11. Hass, Michael & Graydon, Kelly, 2009. "Sources of resiliency among successful foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 457-463, April.
    12. Haight, Wendy & Sugrue, Erin & Calhoun, Molly & Black, James, 2017. "“Basically, I look at it like combat”: Reflections on moral injury by parents involved with child protection services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 477-489.
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