Group Homes and COVID-19: Perspectives of Youth Residents, Staff, and Caregivers

Abstract

Objective: This study explored the perspectives of being in a youth group home during the COVID-19 pandemic from youth residents, staff, and caregivers. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 9 youth residents, 8 group home staff members, and 13 caregivers of residents. All participants were connected to the group home before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was used to identify lived experience themes. Results: Two overarching themes were identified among the youth residents—Safety response to COVID-19 and Socialization changes due to COVID—along with three subthemes: Structure leading to separation, Support and belonging amid a pandemic, and Competency. Three overarching themes were identified among the group home staff: Safety response to COVID-19, Increased responsibility, and Mental health changes because of a pandemic. Finally, three overarching themes were identified among the guardians of youth residents: Safety response to COVID-19, Belief in a mental health impact on the child, and Communication during a pandemic. Conclusions: The findings provide the experiences among three group home stakeholders. Overall, they demonstrated resilience in a setting and time when resilience was essential. Finally, the findings offer insight on the basis of which group homes/organizations can prepare for crises of a great magnitude, including vital communication elements.

The Experiences of Youths Who Left Child and Youth Care Centres of the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…Moodley et al (2020) found in a South African study of youth transitioning out of care that, as with the participants of this study, some youths wondered whether everyone else was adhering to the measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infections, just as they were themselves confined in the centre. In another study among American youths in residential care, participants acknowledged that a ban on visits during the pandemic assisted in minimising their risk of contracting Covid-19 because no one would know if the visitors had contracted the virus (Howey, Assadollahi & Lundahl, 2022). The participants in this study indicated that as far as social distancing during Covid-19 was concerned, they felt that there was a divide between their world at the care centre and the one that they were entering (Howey et al, 2022).…”

“…In another study among American youths in residential care, participants acknowledged that a ban on visits during the pandemic assisted in minimising their risk of contracting Covid-19 because no one would know if the visitors had contracted the virus (Howey, Assadollahi & Lundahl, 2022). The participants in this study indicated that as far as social distancing during Covid-19 was concerned, they felt that there was a divide between their world at the care centre and the one that they were entering (Howey et al, 2022). Another South African study by Haffejee and Levine (2020) at a Gauteng care centre investigated the views of youths about the pandemic and revealed that youths had an awareness of how Covid-19 impacted on them, their families and the communities to which they would be returning (Haffejee & Levine, 2020).…”