Psychosocial Treatment of Children in Foster Care: A Review

Abstract

A substantial number of children in foster care exhibit psychiatric difficulties. Recent epidemiological and historical trends in foster care, clinical findings about the adjustment of children in foster care, and adult outcomes are reviewed, followed by a description of current approaches to treatment and extant empirical support. Available interventions for these children can be categorized as either symptom-focused or systemic, with empirical support for specific methods ranging from scant to substantial. Even with treatment, behavioral and emotional problems often persist into adulthood, resulting in poor functional outcomes. We suggest that self-regulation may be an important mediating factor in the appearance of emotional and behavioral disturbance in these children.

Health Access and Status of Adolescents and Young Adults Using Youth Employment and Training Programs in an Urban Environment

“…There are also successful examples for addressing health risks among specific adolescent and young adult subgroups, such as individuals in the juvenile justice system [31,32], those who are in foster care [33], and teenage mothers [34]. Our findings suggest that health promotion and disease prevention need to be incorporated squarely into another setting-namely, youth employment and training programsgiven the increasingly large numbers of adolescents and young adults using these programs to gain economic selfsufficiency.…”

Exploring the Feasibility and Benefits of Arts-Based Mindfulness-Based Practices with Young People in Need: Aiming to Improve Aspects of Self-Awareness and Resilience

“…Others were hypervigilant and withdrawn, anxious and/or aggressive. Unfortunately, young people in need remain at high risk for poor longterm functional outcomes (Racusin et al 2005). …”

Trauma Experiences, Maltreatment-Related Impairments, and Resilience Among Child Welfare Youth in Residential Care

“…Youth who are involved in child protection experience physical (Chernoff et al 1994;Halfon et al 1995;Simms et al 2000), mental health (Burns, et al 2004;Clausen et al 1998;Dimigen et al 1999;Harman et al 2000;Kerker and Dore 2006;Konenkamp and Ehrle 2002;McMillen et al 2005;Pilowsky 1995;Racusin et al 2005;Tarren-Sweeney 2008), social (Clausen et al 1998;Price and Landsverk 1998), developmental (Cahill et al 1999;Pilowsky 1995) and educational problems (Zima, et al 2000) more frequently than youth from the general population. There is a growing trend toward recognizing these problems as symptoms of traumatic life experiences, typically caused by the events that precipitated involvement in child protection services, such as physical or sexual abuse, family violence, or neglect (Cook et al 2005).…”