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Educating children and youth in care: A review of barriers to school progress and strategies for change

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  • Ferguson, H. Bruce
  • Wolkow, Katherine

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that young people in care are at a significant educational disadvantage. Over the past decade, a number of qualitative research studies have focused specifically on identifying barriers to school success. These findings reveal widespread systems failings and a pervasive disregard for the educational needs of foster children and youth. Potential solutions focus primarily on facilitating collaborative relationships between the various systems and individual professionals in charge of these students' needs. Other core recommendations call for improved school records, increased stability of educational placements and educational supports for students in care. Yet, while limited progress is evident to date, new systemic and local strategies in Ontario, Canada hold promise for the future. Such strategies, combined with high expectations and a focus on individual needs, may result in more positive educational outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferguson, H. Bruce & Wolkow, Katherine, 2012. "Educating children and youth in care: A review of barriers to school progress and strategies for change," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1143-1149.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:34:y:2012:i:6:p:1143-1149
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.01.034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Flynn, Robert J. & Marquis, Robyn A. & Paquet, Marie-Pierre & Peeke, Lisa M. & Aubry, Tim D., 2012. "Effects of individual direct-instruction tutoring on foster children's academic skills: A randomized trial," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1183-1189.
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    3. Cook, Ronna J., 1994. "Are we helping foster care youth prepare for their future?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(3-4), pages 213-229.
    4. Trout, Alexandra L. & Hagaman, Jessica & Casey, Kathryn & Reid, Robert & Epstein, Michael H., 2008. "The academic status of children and youth in out-of-home care: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(9), pages 979-994, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zorc, Catherine S. & O'Reilly, Amanda L.R. & Matone, Meredith & Long, Jin & Watts, Caroline L. & Rubin, David, 2013. "The relationship of placement experience to school absenteeism and changing schools in young, school-aged children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 826-833.
    2. Villegas, Susy & Rosenthal, James & O'Brien, Kirk & Pecora, Peter J., 2014. "Educational outcomes for adults formerly in foster care: The role of ethnicity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 42-52.
    3. Evans, Rhiannon & White, James & Turley, Ruth & Slater, Thomas & Morgan, Helen & Strange, Heather & Scourfield, Jonathan, 2017. "Comparison of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide in children and young people in care and non-care populations: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 122-129.
    4. Kelly, Cara & Anthony, Elizabeth K. & Krysik, Judy, 2019. "“How am I doing?” narratives of youth living in congregate care on their social-emotional well-being," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 255-263.
    5. Jay Miller, J. & Benner, Kalea & Kheibari, Athena & Washington, Earl, 2017. "Conceptualizing on-campus support programs for collegiate foster youth and alumni: A plan for action," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 57-67.
    6. Townsend, Indra M. & Berger, Emily P. & Reupert, Andrea E., 2020. "Systematic review of the educational experiences of children in care: Children’s perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    7. Rutman, Deborah & Hubberstey, Carol, 2018. "Fostering educational success of children and youth in care: Perspectives of youth with experience living in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 257-264.
    8. Silva, Carla Sofia & Carvalho, Helena & Magalhães, Eunice & Attar-Schwartz, Shalhevet & Ornelas, Sandra & Calheiros, Maria Manuela, 2022. "Organizational social context and academic achievement of youth in residential care: The mediating role of youth-caregiver relationship quality," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    9. Kothari, Brianne H. & Godlewski, Bethany & McBeath, Bowen & McGee, Marjorie & Waid, Jeff & Lipscomb, Shannon & Bank, Lew, 2018. "A longitudinal analysis of school discipline events among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 117-125.
    10. Tordön, Rikard & Bladh, Marie & Svedin, Carl Göran & Sydsjö, Gunilla, 2020. "Challenging intellectual, behavioral and educational prerequisites for interventions aimed at school aged children in foster care. A compilation of Swedish test results," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    11. Karatekin, Canan & Hong, Saahoon & Piescher, Kristine & Uecker, Jill & McDonald, Jeff, 2014. "An evaluation of the effects of an integrated services program for multi-service use families on child welfare and educational outcomes of children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 16-26.
    12. Olsen, Rikke Fuglsang & de Montgomery, Christopher J., 2018. "Revisiting out-of-home placed children's poor educational outcomes—Is school change part of the explanation?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 103-113.
    13. Brännström, Lars & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2015. "Risk factors for teenage childbirths among child welfare clients: Findings from Sweden," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 44-51.
    14. Forsman, Hilma, 2020. "Exploring educational pathways over the life course in children with out-of-home care experience: A multi-group path analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    15. Brännström, Lars & Karlsson, Henrik & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2018. "Childhood risk factors for disability pension among adult former Swedish child welfare clients: Same or different as for majority population peers?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 94-102.
    16. Marion, Élodie & Mann-Feder, Varda, 2020. "Supporting the educational attainment of youth in residential care: From issues to controversies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    17. Sonia Hélie & Marie-Andrée Poirier & Tonino Esposito & Daniel Turcotte, 2017. "Placement Stability, Cumulative Time in Care, and Permanency: Using Administrative Data from CPS to Track Placement Trajectories," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, November.
    18. Olson, Annika & Scherer, David G. & Cohen, Andrew L., 2017. "Decision-making skills of emerging adults aging out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 81-86.
    19. Garcia-Molsosa, Marta & Collet-Sabé, Jordi & Montserrat, Carme, 2021. "What are the factors influencing the school functioning of children in residential care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    20. Höjer, Ingrid & Lindberg, Helena & Nielsen, Bo & Gustafsson, Jan-Eric & Johansson, Helena, 2018. "Recognition of education and schooling in case files for children and young people placed in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 135-142.
    21. Evans, Rhiannon & Hallett, Sophie & Rees, Alyson & Roberts, Louise, 2016. "The acceptability of educational Interventions: Qualitative evidence from children and young people in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 68-76.
    22. Strolin-Goltzman, Jessica & Woodhouse, Valerie & Suter, Jesse & Werrbach, Matt, 2016. "A mixed method study on educational well-being and resilience among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 30-36.
    23. Moore, Tim & McArthur, Morag, 2014. "If only I, they, we had done things differently: Young people talk about school difficulties and crime," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 249-255.

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