Assessing the Help-Seeking Behaviors of Foster Care Alumni within their Own Social Networks

Abstract

This study utilizes survey data to assess the social network orientation of 66 foster care youth and alumni. Specifically, it measures the perceptions of foster care alumni concerning the efficacy of seeking help from their support system. Correlation analysis revealed that longer lengths of stays in foster care, higher numbers of placements, and a lack of permanency arrangement were all associated with being less likely to ask for and accept assistance from those in their social networks. Multivariate analysis indicates that the number of placements while in care was the only significant predictor of social network orientation. Implications for policy and practice include increased efforts by state agencies to maintain permanent and stable relationships in the lives of older youth as they transition from care and ensuring that the first placement is the best fit when out-ofhome placements are suggested.

Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies

“…Among those who overcame these challenges, some attributed the change to placement stability which allowed them to intentionally focus on relationships, or gaining an understanding that they needed to be more open, even when this was difficult due to past experiences. This recalls the tendency towards negative perceptions around helpseeking (Pryce, Napolitano, & Samuels, 2017; Seita, Day, Carrellas, & Pugh, 2016) associated with subgroups of young people aging out of care. Such limitations can potentially be addressed through a range of approaches that focus on building socio-relational skills and strengthening relationships with specific non-parental adults (e.g., Greeson & Thompson, 2017; Hall & Jones, 2018; Nesmith & Christophersen, 2014; Spencer, Gowdy, Drew, & Rhodes, 2018).…”

“…Importantly, research also shows that older youth in foster care are more likely to feel that it is useless, inadvisable, or risky to seek help from others, especially if they have had a history of multiple placements or are aging out of care (Seita, Day, Carrellas, & Pugh, 2016). This kind of “survivalist self-reliance” (Samuels & Pryce, 2008) is not uncommon when young people exit care lacking more normative experiences of social development and community integration (e.g., Pryce, Napolitano, & Samuels, 2017).…”

A Systematic Review of Internet Communication Technology Use by Youth in Foster Care

“…Youth focus on relationships and the ability to control their narratives and make decisions about their own lives. The view of foster youth is supported by a growing body of longitudinal studies suggest no relationship between negative mental health outcomes and ICT use for adolescents (Orben & Przybylski, 2019a , 2019b ; Schemer, Masur, Geiß, Müller, & Schäfer, 2020 ). Although additional research is needed related to ICT use by foster youth in particular, it is noteworthy that other marginalized youth, including homeless youth (Barman-Adhikari, Bowen, Bender, Brown, & Rice, 2016 ; Rice & Barman-Adhikari, 2014 ) and LGBTQ youth (McInroy, McCloskey, Craig, & Eaton, 2019 ) are found to benefit relationally, and in other domains, from social media and other ICTs.…”

“…Older youth in foster care experience frequent living transitions and relational losses (Fawley-King, Trask, Zhang, & Aarons, 2017 ; Mitchell, 2018 ). Relationship maintenance promotes positive outcomes for foster youth, especially as they leave foster care (Blakeslee & Best, 2019 ; Graham, Schellinger, & Vaughn, 2015 ; Munson, Smalling, Spencer, Scott, & Tracy, 2010 ; Pryce, Napolitano, & Samuels, 2017 ; Seita, Day, Carrellas, & Pugh, 2016 ). Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) provide one way for youth to stay connected to others as they move through the child welfare system.…”

Caseworkers as a source of hope leading to perceptions of academic success for transitional age foster youth

“…Unlike youth who have had strong family support, youth in the child welfare system often confront challenges with little or no family support (Jones, 2013). In fact, placement instability has been linked to a negative social network orientation, as multiple placements are likely to erode trust and positive attachments (Seita et al, 2016). Consequently, identifying alternative sources of instruction in hopeful thinking is important to promoting the well‐being of youth in the child welfare system.…”