IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v169y2025ics0190740924006662.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Youth in foster care: Highlighting the importance of youth engagement in mental health treatment decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Simmel, Cassandra
  • Bowden, Cadence F.
  • Todd, Sheree Neese
  • Thorp, Kristin
  • Hyde, Justeen
  • Crystal, Stephen

Abstract

Youth in foster care are disproportionately prescribed antipsychotic and other psychotropic medications for perceived mental health challenges, compared with non-foster youth. Recent research has illuminated how children and youth from foster care are adversely affected by this problematic trend and the efficacy of federal and state policy mechanisms to address this problem. However, substantially less is known about how youth in foster care perceive and value interactions with mental health providers, specific to their own behavioral health needs and treatment. Research about youth in foster care often omits voices from those with lived experience in the child welfare and mental health systems. This qualitative study encompasses data from Deliberative Discussion group interviews conducted with youth and young adults (ages 18–28) who had recent involvement with the child welfare system and who had received mental health treatment during this involvement. Four key themes – the need to make room for youth voice, unrealistic expectations, consideration of the long term, and the need for multiple trusted expectations − emerged from the data and can inform the research literature about valuing the voices of those with lived experience, especially as they pertain to ensuring authentic intentional engagement between mental health providers and their youth clients.

Suggested Citation

  • Simmel, Cassandra & Bowden, Cadence F. & Todd, Sheree Neese & Thorp, Kristin & Hyde, Justeen & Crystal, Stephen, 2025. "Youth in foster care: Highlighting the importance of youth engagement in mental health treatment decisions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:169:y:2025:i:c:s0190740924006662
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.108094
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740924006662
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.108094?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Augsberger, Astraea & Springwater, Julie Sweeney & Hilliard-Koshinsky, Grace & Barber, Kelsey & Martinez, Linda Sprague, 2019. "Youth participation in policy advocacy: Examination of a multi-state former and current foster care youth coalition," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Toros, Karmen & DiNitto, Diana Maria & Tiko, Anne, 2018. "Family engagement in the child welfare system: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 598-607.
    3. Barnett, Erin R. & Butcher, Rebecca L. & Neubacher, Katrin & Jankowski, Mary K. & Daviss, William B. & Carluzzo, Kathleen L. & Ungarelli, Erica G. & Yackley, Cathleen R., 2016. "Psychotropic medications in child welfare: From federal mandate to direct care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 9-17.
    4. Longhofer, Jeffrey & Floersch, Jerry & Okpych, Nate, 2011. "Foster youth and psychotropic treatment: Where next?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 395-404, February.
    5. Villagrana, Margarita & Guillen, Cindy & Macedo, Vanessa & Lee, Sei-Young, 2018. "Perceived self-stigma in the utilization of mental health services in foster care and post foster care among foster care alumni," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 26-34.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Saar-Heiman, Yuval, 2023. "Power with and power over: Social workers’ reflections on their use of power when talking with parents about child welfare concerns," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    2. Venables, Jemma, 2019. "Practitioner perspectives on implementing an alternative response in statutory child protection: The role of local practice context and leadership teams in shaping practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Dunkerley, Stacy & Brown, Amanda & Akin, Becci & McArthur, Vickie, 2024. "Honoring Family: Using parent partner expertise to strengthen a child welfare coaching program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    4. Masuda, Taira & Helm, Susana, 2024. "“Being in the system is really difficult and…I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.” Trauma and the public sector system of care for youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Middel, Floor & López López, Mónica & Fluke, John & Witte, Susanne & Biehal, Nina & Grietens, Hans, 2024. "Who is involved in child protection investigations? The relationship between gender, ethnicity/migration background, and contacts between parents and caseworkers during investigations and assessments," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    6. Balsells Bailón, M. Àngels & Urrea-Monclús, Aida & Vaquero Tió, Eduard & Fernández-Rodrigo, Laura, 2022. "The voices of children, mothers, and fathers: Can parenting programs improve reunification processes in the Spanish child protection system?," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Haarberg, Frøydis Lønborg, 2024. "What do we know about children’s representation in child protection decisions? A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    8. Christine Morley & Joanne Clarke & Chez Leggatt-Cook & Donna Shkalla, 2021. "Can a Paradigm Shift from Risk Management to Critical Reflection Improve Child-Inclusive Practice?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Watt, Toni & Faulkner, Monica, 2020. "The Texas tuition and fee waiver program for youth who have experienced foster care: An assessment of waiver utilization and impact," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    10. Kisiel, Cassandra & Guarnaccia, Uma & Pinkerton, Linzy & Garibaldi, Patricia & Agosti, Jen, 2024. "Empowering transition age youth through trauma-informed, strengths-based, youth-centered, and anti-racist practices: Implementation of a virtual breakthrough series collaborative," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    11. Barnett, Erin R. & Boucher, Elizabeth A. & Neubacher, Katrin & Carpenter-Song, Elizabeth A., 2016. "Decision-making around psychotropic medications for children in foster care: Perspectives from foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 206-213.
    12. Buisson, Camille & Poitras, Karine & Joyal, Christian C., 2024. "Risk of child sexual abuse: A mixed-methods analysis of judicial decisions in the Youth Court of Québec," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    13. Judith Cashmore & Peiling Kong & Meredith McLaine, 2023. "Children’s Participation in Care and Protection Decision-Making Matters," Laws, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-26, June.
    14. LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Agoglia, Irene Salvo & Faulkner, Monica, 2025. "Systemic family engagement to preserve and reunify families: Lessons from the U.S. and Chile," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    15. Bush, Helena & Rapp, John T. & Kierce, Erica, 2021. "Combining stimulants with antipsychotics for foster children and adolescents: Do prescribers adhere to guidelines?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    16. Bakketeig, Elisiv & Boddy, Janet & Gundersen, Tonje & Østergaard, Jeanette & Hanrahan, Fidelma, 2020. "Deconstructing doing well; what can we learn from care experienced young people in England, Denmark and Norway?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    17. Pettigrew, Jessica & Golieb, Katie & Winokur, Marc, 2024. "Service navigation and concrete supports from a family Perspective: A preventative and community-based approach to child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    18. Damman, Jeri L. & Saar-Heiman, Yuval & Lalayants, Marina & Gupta, Anna, 2025. "What makes peer support supportive? A scoping review of multidimensional parent advocacy support in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    19. Lätsch, David & Quehenberger, Julia & Portmann, Rahel & Jud, Andreas, 2023. "Children’s participation in the child protection system: Are young people from poor families less likely to be heard?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    20. Lai, Jianchao & Graef, Michelle & Franke, Todd, 2025. "Exploring the dynamics and outcomes of family engagement in child welfare services: A structural equation modeling approach," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:169:y:2025:i:c:s0190740924006662. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.