Improving foster care and juvenile justice services: A community-based participatory mixed-methods study in Iowa and Illinois

This mixed-methods study, grounded in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles, examines how providers working in social services linked to foster care and juvenile justice systems propose to better serve vulnerable youth and families in the bi-state Quad Cities region (Iowa and Illinois, USA). Co-designed and initiated by Family Resources, this community-led research addresses the question: What are the barriers and enablers related to entering and exiting social services for vulnerable youth and their families? Survey tools were co-created with community providers to identify service gaps, systemic barriers and enablers, and benefits of existing services. Using convenience sampling, 133 human service professionals (social work, education, juvenile justice) completed surveys with both quantitative items and qualitative open-ended questions. Findings reveal a critical paradox linked to availability and accessibility, as while services exist in communities, macrosystemic Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), particularly housing instability (74 % of respondents) and transportation limitations (73 %), may render services inaccessible to families who need them most. Results indicate 74 % identify insufficient early intervention as a primary barrier, while 76 % confirm that using a comprehensive strength-based assessment can reinforce resilience. Framed by Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, findings demonstrate that interventions must address macrosystemic forces (SDOH) while also building "linkages of trust" to reduce risk, optimize existing resources, and promote positive youth and family development. Practice implications include prioritizing cross-sector collaboration, early intervention, and addressing structural barriers to move beyond service availability toward true equitable accessibility for vulnerable youth and families.