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Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system

Author

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  • James, Sigrid
  • Montgomery, Susanne B.
  • Leslie, Laurel K.
  • Zhang, Jinjin

Abstract

This study uses data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to provide estimates of sexual risk behaviors for 877 youth, age 11-14 at baseline, in the child welfare system. It examines the association between baseline psychosocial risk and protective factors on engagement in sexual risk behaviors after 36Â months. It further compares rates of sexual risk behaviors between youth placed in out-of-home care and those who remained with their biological family. Key findings include a high rate of pregnancy, a high percentage of youth who initiated sexual activity at or before age 13 as well as a limited role of protective factors in moderating sexual risk behaviors. A history of placement into out-of-home care is not significantly associated with greater engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Implications for intervention development and child welfare policy for this population are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • James, Sigrid & Montgomery, Susanne B. & Leslie, Laurel K. & Zhang, Jinjin, 2009. "Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 990-1000, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:31:y:2009:i:9:p:990-1000
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    1. Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Shpiegel, Svetlana & Grinnell-Davis, Claudette & King, Bryn, 2019. "“My body is strong and amazing”: Embodied experiences of pregnancy and birth among young women in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 199-205.
    2. Melkman, Eran, 2015. "Risk and protective factors for problem behaviors among youth in residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 117-124.
    3. Lieberman, Lisa D. & Kaplan, Alejandra & Scholey, Laura & Kohomban, Jeremy & Lausell-Bryant, Linda, 2020. "Strategic partners: Enhancing the ability of foster care agencies to serve the special needs of young mothers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. Hagit Cohen-Medina & Sarah Ben-David, 2016. "A Comparative Study on Self-Monitoring: an Updated Perspective on Normative Versus At-risk Youth," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(4), pages 873-888, December.
    5. Roberts, Louise & Maxwell, Nina & Elliott, Martin, 2019. "When young people in and leaving state care become parents: What happens and why?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Zárate-Alva, Nair Elizabeth & Sala-Roca, Josefina, 2019. "Socio-emotional skills of girls and young mothers in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 50-56.
    7. Combs, Katie Massey & Cook Lee, Mackenzie & Ramseyer Winter, Virginia & Taussig, Heather, 2022. "Sexual and reproductive health protective factors among adolescents with child welfare involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    8. Harmon-Darrow, Caroline & Burruss, Karen & Finigan-Carr, Nadine, 2020. "“We are kind of their parents”: Child welfare workers’ perspective on sexuality education for foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    9. Robertson, Roni Diamant, 2013. "The invisibility of adolescent sexual development in foster care: Seriously addressing sexually transmitted infections and access to services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 493-504.
    10. Martha J. Decker & Nancy F. Berglas & Claire D. Brindis, 2015. "A Call to Action: Developing and Strengthening New Strategies to Promote Adolescent Sexual Health," Societies, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-27, October.
    11. Ramseyer Winter, Virginia & Brandon-Friedman, Richard A. & Ely, Gretchen E., 2016. "Sexual health behaviors and outcomes among current and former foster youth: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-14.
    12. Salerno, John P. & Kachingwe, Olivia N. & Fish, Jessica N. & Parekh, Eshana & Geddings-Hayes, Melanie & Boekeloo, Bradley O. & Aparicio, Elizabeth M., 2020. "“Even if you think you can trust them, don’t trust them”: An exploratory analysis of the lived experiences of sexual health among sexual minority girls in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    13. Bruce, Janine S., 2016. "Sexual and reproductive health policies for foster youth in California: A qualitative study of child welfare professionals' experiences and perceptions of policies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 184-200.
    14. Greene, Alison & Korchmaros, Josephine D., 2022. "Engaging parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in a sexual health intervention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    15. Roberts, Louise & Long, Sara Jayne & Young, Honor & Hewitt, Gillian & Murphy, Simon & Moore, Graham F., 2018. "Sexual health outcomes for young people in state care: Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 281-288.
    16. Alicia Meckstroth & Megan Barry & Betsy Keating & Ellen Kisker & Kristine Andrews, "undated". "Addressing Teen Pregnancy Risks for Youth Living in Out-of-Home Care: Implementing POWER Through Choices 2010," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 6d5f0382e9094f30859d7e71a, Mathematica Policy Research.
    17. Svoboda, Deborah V. & Shaw, Terry V. & Barth, Richard P. & Bright, Charlotte Lyn, 2012. "Pregnancy and parenting among youth in foster care: A review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 867-875.
    18. Combs, Katie Massey & Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Prince, Dana M. & Grinnell-Davis, Claudette & Marra, Laura & Faulkner, Monica, 2019. "Evidence-based sexual health programs for youth involved with juvenile justice and child welfare systems: Outcomes across settings," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 64-69.
    19. Olga Fernández-García & María Dolores Gil-Llario & Rafael Ballester-Arnal, 2022. "Sexual Health among Youth in Residential Care in Spain: Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    20. Boustani, Maya M. & Frazier, Stacy L. & Lesperance, Nephtalie, 2017. "Sexual health programming for vulnerable youth: Improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 375-383.
    21. Aparicio, Elizabeth & Pecukonis, Edward V. & O'Neale, Shalita, 2015. "“The love that I was missing”: Exploring the lived experience of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 44-54.
    22. van der Gaag, Renske Sanne & Gisella Gwendolyn Walpot, Mirjam & Boendermaker, Leonieke, 2024. "Professional competencies for sexuality and relationships education in child and youth social care: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    23. Potter, Marina Haddock & Font, Sarah A., 2019. "Parenting influences on adolescent sexual risk-taking: Differences by child welfare placement status," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 134-144.

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