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

Abstract

This study explores how foster care experiences can impact support network functionality as young people exit the foster care system. This can be conceptualized as a function of both network member capacity to provide adequate support to address young adult needs, and network stability, which reflects cohesion within and across relationships to facilitate consistent support over time. We conducted support network mapping and semi-structured interviews with youth in foster care aged 16-20 (N=22) and used theoretical thematic analysis to explore support barriers and facilitators in relation to the organizing concepts of support capacity and network stability. Overall, support capacity was limited by interpersonal difficulties inhibiting the presence and supportiveness of some network members (including family members, informal peer and community-based connections, and caseworkers), whereas network stability facilitated multidimensional support through strong and interconnected relationships with caregivers and service providers. Emergent network patterns reflected distinct subgroups of more and less functional support networks, and strategies for network enhancement focus on promoting youth-directed services and support, developing youth skills and opportunities to invest in informal relationships, and using network assessment to identify unmet support needs. Findings advance a framework for understanding how foster care impacts support network characteristics, and inform ongoing efforts to address resulting limitations through services and programming.

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

“…Additionally, youth connect with family members, deepen new face-to-face relationships, and find new friends in a setting where they can control their self-disclosure. Relational connections reduce many risks to youth as the age out of care (Blakeslee & Best, 2019). Self-disclosure via ICTs appears to strengthen online and in-person relationships (Desjarlais, 2020).…”

“…This skill relies on interpersonal experiences. Again, foster youth often lack opportunities for interpersonal social supports (Best & Blakeslee, 2020;Blakeslee & Best, 2019). Youth participants across studies reported that they developed relational skills through the use of ICTs that provided insights into others' experiences and allowed them to reflect more deeply on their own experiences.…”

“…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.…”

Perspectives of youth aging out of foster care on relationship strength and closeness in their support networks

“…Building on prior work (Blakeslee & Best, 2019), this study takes a network approach to understanding strong ties from youth perspectives as well identifying multiple sources of support and meaningful relationships. This approach represents an effort to move beyond prescriptive understandings of relational permanence, such as relationships with a singular supportive and caring adult, parent-like figure, or mentor.…”

“…Youth ages 16 through 20 who were in foster care at the time of recruitment were eligible to participate. We employed a purposive approach to sampling and recruitment; recruitment occurred in three phases and yielded a total of 22 participants (see Blakeslee & Best, 2019). First, youth attending a statewide ILP conference focused on post-secondary career preparation and planning, participated in a social support network mapping workshop and self-selected to participate.…”