A steady presence in the midst of change: Non-kin natural mentors in the lives of older youth exiting foster care

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the non-kin natural mentoring relationships among 19-year-old youths (N=189) in the process of "aging out" of the foster care system. Data for the present study are from the final interview of a longitudinal study of older youth exiting the foster care system in Missouri. Participants that reported a natural mentoring relationship at age 19 were asked a series of qualitative questions about their reported relationship. The sample in this study was 65% female and 58% youth of color. Thematic analysis, informed by relational-cultural theory (Miller & Stiver, 1997), was utilized to explore the nature of the relationships from the youth's perspective. These youth reported having natural mentors who served in a range of roles in their lives, including youth service professionals and friends of their families. These older youth also described the (a) qualities of their natural mentors that were important to them, (b) specific features of their natural mentoring relationships that they perceived to be especially helpful, and (c) the various kinds of support these relationships had offered to them. Implications for social work policy, practice, and research are discussed.

Clinical Social Work Practice with Former System Youth with Mental Health Needs: Perspective of Those in Need

“…Of note, consistent with our partner Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau (see above) and previous research (Munson et al 2010), these young adults articulate a desire to talk with and learn from others like them, others who have shared similar experiences. This research supports previous suggestions that point to the need to implement services with a variety of provider-types, including peers and paraprofessionals (Pringle et al 2010).…”

Child Welfare Professionals’ Attitudes and Beliefs About Child Welfare-Based Natural Mentoring for Older Youth in Foster Care

“…Additionally, the extant relationship provides youth with the time they need to build trust as opposed to forcing a matched relationship within the timeline of a formal mentoring program like Big Brothers Big Sisters. For example, Munson et al (2010) interviewed almost 200 emancipating foster youth with natural mentoring relationships and found that the youth characterized positive natural mentoring relationships by their consistency and longevity as well as their qualities related to trust, authenticity, respect, and empathy. For some youth, the relationship with their natural mentor was the longest, most consistent relationship they had experienced.…”

“…Although studies on natural mentoring as a protective factor for foster youth are accumulating (e.g., Ahrens et al, 2008Ahrens et al, , 2011Greeson, 2013;Greeson & Bowen, 2008;Greeson et al, 2010;Munson & McMillen, 2009;Munson, Smalling, Spencer, Scott, & Tracy, 2010), none have explicitly examined child welfare professionals' attitudes and beliefs about implementing natural mentoring in child welfare agency settings. Developing such an understanding will help key stakeholders, like child welfare leadership, to create and implement contextspecific natural mentoring programs, particularly within child welfare organizations.…”

Foster Youth and the Transition to Adulthood

“…Qualitative studies suggest that certain characteristics of caring adults are important for a successful mentor relationship, including affirmation, attention, availability, authenticity, companionship, empathy, respect, and trust (e.g., Drapeau, Saint-Jacques, Lépine, Bégin, & Bernard, 2007;Greeson & Bowen, 2008;Hines et al, 2005;Laursen & Birmingham, 2003;Munson, Smalling, Spencer, Scott, & Tracy, 2010;Spencer, 2006). Several studies demonstrate that social support, or the psychological and informational resources available to individuals through their relationships with family, friends, communities, and professionals (House, 1981), is one of the primary ways that mentor relationships may protect atrisk youth (Casey-Cannon, Pasch, Tschann, & Flores, 2006;Greeson & Bowen, 2008;Osterling & Hines, 2006).…”