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The purpose of the study is to describe how young care leavers conceptualize their subjective sense of wellbeing, as a lived experience during the "Odd Year" which refers to the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—from 2020 to 2021. Qualitative data from seven young people's open discussions by using the Time Out Method and essays. Principles of Joint Research were used. Fattorés theory of children and young people's subjective well-being as well as Eskelineńs (2020) themes of social philosophy during a disaster were employed in the analysis. The Odd Year's effect was to restrict agency relating to study and employment but simultaneously highlight moral agency. The downscaling of services created a sense of uncertainty. Background in Foster Care strengthened the sense of resilience and agency for some. The transformative resilience of society can be strengthened by peer support and by utilizing digital services in social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how language is framed as a route to full inclusion, particularly for unaccompanied asylum-seeking students labelled as disabled. It is based on a qualitative study carried out in the Italian city of Rome, which, although cosmopolitan, is often characterised by nationalistic political landscapes. The manuscript reveals how institutional biases (re: race, ability, and migration) about unaccompanied forced migrant youth, often manifested in their construction as disabled and foreign by local professionals, hinder the likelihood that they successfully participate in the life of the host society. The paper also shows how the inclusion of migrant and refugee students living in foster care homes is conceptualised as a violent integration into monolingual and monocultural education settings. Drawing on Disability Critical Race Studies and Raciolinguistics, this contribution analyzes how unaccompanied forced migrant students respond to their linguistic urgency, learn power majority languages, and simultaneously devalue their home language to perform the 'good (im)migrant.' Lastly, the contribution shows how processes of racialization of disabled unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee students influence how western communities perceive their linguistic capacity and effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: People who grew up under the care of children's social services are a highly vulnerable group, with 50% of this population meeting the criteria for a mental health problem at any one time. Emerging evidence suggests that there is a disparity between the number of people who require support, and those that receive it, and that they face several barriers to accessing timely and effective mental health support. We have a limited understanding of how to support the mental health of this group as they 'age out' of children's social services, and the transition to independence, which occurs around the age of 18. We aimed to explore how care‐leavers understand their experiences of help‐seeking from formal mental health services. Methods: We used qualitative interviews, and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with 9 care‐experienced young people aged between 18 and 25 years old. This work was co‐produced by a team of care‐experienced adults, from the conception of the study to write‐up. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed several themes which centred around: (1) taking reluctant steps towards recovery, (2) challenges with being understood and the importance of gaining an understanding of yourself, (3) navigating trust and (4) the legacy of not having your mental health needs met. Conclusions: We identified several important implications for health and social care practice, across primary and secondary health care settings. This work highlights ways to better support this highly vulnerable group in accessing evidence‐based mental health support, and how to maintain engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive biotechnologies can separate concepts of parenthood into genetic, gestational and social dimensions, often leading to a fragmentation of heteronormative kinship models and posing a challenge to historical methods of establishing legal and/or moral parenthood. Using fictional cases, this article will demonstrate that the issues surrounding the intersection of current and emerging reproductive biotechnologies with definitions of parenthood are already leading to confusion regarding social and legal family ties for offspring, which is only expected to increase as new technologies develop. Rather than opposing these new technologies to reassert traditional concepts of the family, however, this article will explore the opportunities that these technologies represent for re‐imagining various culturally cherished values of family‐making in a way that is inclusive of diverse genders, sexualities and cultures. It will consider IVF, gametogenesis, mitochondrial donation, surrogacy, artificial gestation, CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing, foster care and adoption as some of many possible pathways to parenthood, including for members of the LGBTIAUQ+ community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected care leavers in Quebec, a social group already facing obstacles to social integration. Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 48 participants and analysed through Castel's zones of vulnerability model. Results suggest that youth who entered the pandemic with more vulnerabilities were more affected by it in all dimensions of their lives. However, results also suggest that the presence of a strong social support network protects even the most vulnerable ones from being overly afflicted, highlighting the importance of interventions that reinforce care leaver's social support network during times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and map knowledge on different types of transitional support interventions currently available to support transition to independent living for care leavers. An extensive search using four research databases was undertaken, resulting in 36 relevant articles for inclusion. Findings were organised thematically into four broad areas: (1) Extended care; (2) A Helping Relationship; (3) Family; and (4) Employment, Education and Training. Findings show that offering a combination of targeted interventions can contribute to a more successful transition. Effective relationship‐based practices are critical to the success of transitional support interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critique that child welfare services (CWS) are primarily focused on neglect cases resulting from poverty is longstanding and reemerging from discussions about how to address America's racial history and structural oppression which begets poverty. Understanding how poverty and CWS involvement operate requires testing relationships between poverty and other factors influencing placement. Drawing on NSCAW II, we identify families (n = 445) investigated for neglect, with children younger than 15, and remaining home upon investigation at the study's baseline. This study uniquely allows for distinguishing the contribution of poverty and family adversities on foster care placements among neglecting families. Families were followed for 36 months, to observe placements into out-of-home care. Poverty levels were not strongly related to subsequent placement. Children in families with high levels of adversity – especially arrests and domestic violence – were most likely to be placed into foster care. Employment at initial contact was associated with less later foster care placement even when income levels were generally low. The findings add to the evidence that placement into foster care may most significantly result from an accumulation of adversities. Intervention that might help reduce foster care placements for neglected children who begin receiving services at home are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify latent classes of child welfare placement histories, with a focus on entry to residential treatment settings (RTS), and how youth behavior and development are associated with the probability of latent class membership. This study utilized secondary child welfare administrative data. The study found that a four-class model was the best fit for the data. The four latent classes were defined by instability while in family settings, stability in kinship care, movement through congregate care settings, and stability in non-kinship foster care. Youth behavior and developmental period were significantly associated with latent class membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes U.S. emerging adults who entered foster care in 2019 using data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). Results showed that 2,763 (1.1%) of individuals who entered care were 18 or older. Eighty-five percent had been discharged from foster care in the past three years, most were either racialized as white (46.4%) or Black/African American (43.3%), 55.7% were female and 44.3% male, and over half had a clinically diagnosed disability. Implications include a need for improved data collection and research on emerging adults utilizing foster care to better understand and target services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal fostering arrangements can relieve pressure on parents and promote social mobility for children from poor households in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the motivation of host households to invest in fostered children would determine the extent of the benefits. This study uses Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data on children 6–12 years with both parents alive in five West African countries (Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Togo) to assess the relationship between foster status and school attendance in two time periods: 2005–2006 and 2017–2018. Multilevel logit regressions are used to estimate the likelihood of ever attending school. The results indicate that the likelihood of attending school for fostered children relative to non-fostered children was negative and statistically significant in 2017–2018 but was not different in 2005–2006. Further, the negative association between foster status and school attendance was larger for children in richer households in both time periods. These findings highlight the need for further research to provide insight into the dynamics of fostering children to higher socioeconomic status households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinship care and child fostering are a common practice in certain parts of Africa. This narrative review seeks to explore and thematically code the contextual circumstances in which children leave their natal homes and are fostered across Africa and the corresponding outcomes for these children. It draws on case studies from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Namibia and other countries across the region to illustrate the diversity and cultural importance of kinship care and child fostering. These countries were selected based on their inclusion in the Thrive by Five International Program, a child rearing program promoting social, emotional, and cognitive development of children from birth to age five. The importance of kinship care and child fostering is also reinforced by outcomes from codesign workshops conducted for the Thrive by Five International Program in which parents, caregivers, and subject matter experts discussed their perspectives on child rearing practices and the challenges faced by caregivers in their home countries. The paper highlights the need to support kinship and foster caregivers in Africa with culturally adapted and place‐based child rearing programs to help ensure fostered children reach their full developmental potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study collected the first-known responses from former child welfare-involved youth detailing their experiences of participating in child welfare interviews at school. Ten participants answered semi-structured interview questions about their school interview experiences in this phenomenological qualitative study. Five themes provided a shared understanding of participants having child welfare interactions introduced into their school life. The themes were not knowing how to prepare, difficulties interacting with the child welfare worker, expectations for support from school staff, dealing with the cognitive impact, and suggestions for improving child welfare interviews at school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe existing literature on college students with foster care histories almost exclusively addresses secular higher education. Of the roughly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 1,000 are religious based institutions, and over 150 campuses are part of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) in the United States and Canada. However, little to no attention has been given to the experiences of students with foster care histories attending Christian universities. This study examines the lived experiences of such students. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven participants attending three residential Christian universities in two states in the western United States. Five themes emerged from the study: (1) identifying the factors that influenced students’ decision to attend a Christian university, (2) the impact of trauma and how it influenced students’ relationship with God and the Christian faith, (3) students’ foster care experience and how it shaped their identity development while in college, (4) students’ transition into college, and (5) the emotional navigation students undergo with familial relationships. We conclude with practical recommendations that Christian colleges and universities can implement to better support students with foster care backgrounds considering their unique needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely acknowledged that individuals with out‐of‐home care (OHC) experiences, including foster‐family care and residential care, face an increased risk of poor labour market attachment during emerging adulthood. However, limited understanding exists regarding how this attachment, conceptualized here as ‘not in employment, education, or training’ (NEET), evolves beyond young adulthood and the degree to which this development is marked by persistence or desistance. Using group‐based trajectory modelling and multinomial regression on population‐based register data for over 650,000 Swedish men and women (including approximately 14,000 with OHC experience), followed from birth to age 40, the results indicate that OHC‐experienced individuals, especially those first placed as teenagers, exhibit a substantially higher risk of persistent NEET compared to peers without OHC experience. Nevertheless, the majority of OHC‐experienced individuals followed pathways characterized by desistance. Implications for research, policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Foster parents encounter significant and diverse obstacles in receiving support when caring for children affected by relational trauma and mental illness. These issues extend to their interactions with welfare systems, mental health professionals and personal networks. This study is aimed at understanding foster parents' needs in navigating the support systems and finding a balance in their responsibilities. To address this, we conducted interviews with 22 foster parents caring for children receiving mental health treatment in a specialized outpatient clinic in Norway. We present the findings as a general meaning structure comprising four interconnected constituents: (1) the challenge of being an ‘employee’ and a parent, (2) encounters marked by inadequate information, (3) wanting a closer relationship with the child welfare services and (4) feeling a need for confidential conversations and support. This study underscores foster parents' struggle with systems that fail to provide adequate child information and holistic support, highlighting a pressing need for context‐aware and tailored systemic improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, on any given day, about 45,000 children and youth aged 0–17 (about 1 per cent of Australian youth) are in the care of the state, often cared for through delegation‐funded child welfare organisations. Many of these children are in out‐of‐home care of such organisations for brief periods of time, but a substantial number remain in care until their mandatory emancipation. About 3600 youth a year are obliged to leave care at 18 years of age, due to child protection orders ending before their 18th birthday. Many advocates in the field, including former youth in out‐of‐home care represented in the CREATE Foundation, believe that this is much too young to be out on their own. Founded in 2016, Home Stretch is a national advocacy campaign to extend the leaving care age for young people in out‐of‐home care from 18 to 21 years in all Australian jurisdictions. Prior to the Home Stretch movement, no Australian state, territory or federal government (with the partial exception of the ACT) had indicated any action, interest or desire to extending its services to children in state care past 18 years. Yet, extended care in varying forms has been found recommended in various government enquiries over the past several decades. Seven years after the Home Stretch launch, extended care is now offered in all eight Australian jurisdictions, and at last count, over 4200 young people are in extended care arrangements to 21 years across the country. This is a remarkable social policy about face by the Government in a relatively short space of time. In this article, we describe the advocacy strategy employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An achievement gap in K-12 education exists between children in foster care and their peers. Professionals have a shared responsibility to support the education of these children, but often face barriers to engaging in interprofessional collaboration. Interviews and focus groups (N = 22) were conducted with child welfare professionals, school professionals, and professional caregivers to explore the facilitators of interprofessional collaboration in their work together. Themes included: centering the best interests of the child, effective communication, opportunities and capacity to meaningfully engage, positive and trusting relationships, being knowledgeable about the child, policies, roles, and systems, and empathy toward other professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For children entering out-of-home care due to child protection concerns, meaningful connections to family and culture are important and necessary. In this article the complexities of promoting cultural connections for culturally and linguistically diverse children in out-of-home care are explored. Through the use of the settlement, ethnicity, language and faith (S.E.L.F) cultural framework, practitioners and leaders working in the child and family sector can consider the cultural elements of the children in their care. The framework provides questions to explore what culture may mean for families and encourages practitioners to self-reflect on their own cultural assumptions. The framework development has been informed through community of practice reflections and learnings by the authors who have held multiple practice, leadership, and research roles in the child and family sector.IMPLICATIONSThe S.E.L.F. framework encompasses curiosity questions that guide the collection of information from children and families to aid in better understanding and enhancing cultural connection practices and to build organisational cultural competency.The framework promotes practitioner critical thinking and reflection on their own cultural bias and assumptions.The S.E.L.F. framework encompasses curiosity questions that guide the collection of information from children and families to aid in better understanding and enhancing cultural connection practices and to build organisational cultural competency.The framework promotes practitioner critical thinking and reflection on their own cultural bias and assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of acknowledging the grief and loss integral to the experiences of foster carers, has long been understood. However, in a complex area of practice and an increasingly pressured out-of-home care sector, there is a need to refocus foster care program and practitioner attention on supporting carers and their families with the difficult experience of placements ending. This article reports on findings from research that aimed to understand current carer experiences of grief and loss, their coping strategies, their support needs, and the implications for a foster care agency’s duty of care towards its workforce. Through a mixed-methods exploratory methodology, data were collected through an online survey and semistructured interviews with carers affiliated with a foster carer provider operating across three Australian jurisdictions. Carers called for acknowledgement of the deep feelings they develop for the children they look after and help for the grieving process, through training, preparation, and tailored support based on authentic relationships with professionals. The need for well-trained and strongly supported agency workers was emphasised.IMPLICATIONS Providing updates to carers about foster children who have left their care can alleviate the pain of grief and loss.Training, preparation, and step-by-step support for carers can promote healthy grieving processes.Tailored support for grieving carers needs to be founded on authentic relationships with foster care professionals and open and honest communication.Providing updates to carers about foster children who have left their care can alleviate the pain of grief and loss.Training, preparation, and step-by-step support for carers can promote healthy grieving processes.Tailored support for grieving carers needs to be founded on authentic relationships with foster care professionals and open and honest communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the Australian context, we argue there is limited research to guide practice on supporting cultural connections for non-Indigenous children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in out-of-home care. Based on practice wisdom and international research evidence, a compiled case study demonstrates how a set of practices can work together. These key practices are respectfully engaging the children’s family members in cultural care planning; coaching and supporting carers to promote cultural connection; integrating culture into life story work; and identifying cultural mentors.IMPLICATIONSPractices that can support the identity development for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds include cultural care planning, life story work, and cultural mentors, and these practices may work best when developed in concert with each other.Practice to support cultural connections for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia requires further research evidence and development.Practices that can support the identity development for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds include cultural care planning, life story work, and cultural mentors, and these practices may work best when developed in concert with each other.Practice to support cultural connections for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia requires further research evidence and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis parasitizes many species with different life-history traits and has a detrimental effect on the survival of the progeny of the hosts. In response, hosts have developed numerous antiparasitic defenses. Here, we examined the effects of brood parasitism by shiny cowbird on the clutch and brood sizes (83 nests) in a small host, the black-backed water tyrant Fluvicola albiventer. We also studied whether the death of parasite nestlings was related to the care of the foster parents and whether the host had any antiparasitic defense against the shiny cowbird. Our results indicate that brood parasitism significantly decreased the host hatching and fledging successes. The majority of nest failures (57%) were caused by brood parasitism. Shiny cowbird parasitism occurred in 52% of nests and the intensity of parasitism was 1.23 ± 0.53 eggs per parasitized nest. Of the total host eggs, 54% were damaged. During the incubation stage, 20 nests (47%) were abandoned because of egg punctures by shiny cowbirds females. Only two parasitic fledglings were recorded, while the remaining nestlings either died from starvation (n = 12) or predation (n = 3). Foster parents abandoned parasitic nestlings between 5 and 10 days old. Our findings demonstrate that the shiny cowbird has very low rates of fledging success when parasitizing black-backed water tyrant. Also, parasitism had a high reproductive cost in the black-backed water tyrant because a very low proportion (7%) of the parasitized nests (n = 43) were successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adults aging out of the foster care system have received a good deal of attention over the years from policymakers, child welfare practitioners and researchers. Despite these efforts, youth aging out of the foster care system continue to have well-documented challenges when transitioning to adulthood. In this cross-sectional comparative study, we assess the outcomes of emancipated youth after the initiation of an extended after care program and compare the results with the outcomes drawn from a prior study conducted twenty years earlier. Overall, young adults in the 2021 study fared significantly better than their 2001 counterparts. They had increased positive health outcomes, were more financially secure, had a notable decline in involvement with law enforcement, were engaged in less illegal activity, had better educational outcomes, fewer job terminations, were experiencing less homelessness, were less likely to be married, and had fewer pregnancies and children than youth in the 2001 study. The provision of training and concrete services was associated with more positive outcomes. The article advances implications for policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to government data, there is a slow decline in foster care in Italy, especially for teenagers, caused by an insufficient number of available foster families. The need to provide an intense stimulus to foster care is evident. This study conducted individual qualitative interviews with 126 foster parents of teenagers, transcribed and analysed using Atlas.ti software. Valuable indications for social services were individuated. The importance of the foster parents' intrinsic motivations and the suggestion for social services to emphasize them in the recruitment campaigns were reaffirmed. The appropriateness of directing the proposal towards foster parents with previous experience in parenting, foster parenting or working with teenagers was also confirmed. Additionally, results revealed that foster parents connected to foster parents' associations/networks and religious groups are preferred. The importance of the relationship between foster parents and social services and suitable support for the ongoing fostering is pivotal. Establishing a relationship based on trust and the diffusion of the foster care invitation through testimonies and word‐of‐mouth was also highlighted. The initiatives promoting spaces and occasions for teens needing foster care and potential candidates for fostering to meet them have promising outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child safeguarding services intervene when a child is at risk of serious emotional or physical harm. Oxfordshire County Council is implementing a new approach to child safeguarding (Family Solutions Plus [FSP]) with a greater focus on whole family support and reducing the need for foster care. We sampled two cohorts of children closed within 1 year and examined the time spent in services. The sample included 474 children entering services before the new model's implementation and 561 children after. A greater proportion of children receiving FSP required a single care plan before their case was closed (85.9%; 69.4%, p < 0.001) and only experienced the lowest level plan (74.5%; 61.8%, p < 0.001). On average, this group spent less time in services for the period being observed (MD = 17.58, 95% confidence interval = 6.19, 28.96). At this early stage, no significant reduction in the number of children requiring foster care was seen (5.5%; 3.9%, p = 0.23). These initial findings suggest a potential association of FSP with a reduced number and level of care plans as well as length of time. Local authorities in England may investigate further whether FSP is a potentially useful model in improving safeguarding services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work is characterized as a helping profession. Consequently, the nature and purposes of social work revolve around concepts of help and helping. In this article, I explore what happens when the extended family network and friends are brought together by child welfare services to make decisions to help a child. Based on analyses of a single videotaped family group conference, this article offers insights into the challenges and complexities families face when dealing with the mandated task to devise a plan that meets the child's needs. By examining sequences of interaction where friends and family members discuss future scenarios with some cast as beneficiaries and others as benefactors, I show how some of these complexities can be captured in terms of the relationship between benefactive stance and benefactive status. The complexities include ambiguities regarding the relationship between nominated future scenarios and the problem(s) they were designed to solve. Furthermore, participants dealt with uncertainties regarding who was more inclined towards specific future scenarios and thus understood to be the actual beneficiary. Additionally, the analysis shows that social identities ascribed to recipients when resolutions to problems were linked to family members' past shortcomings complicated the acknowledgement and acceptance of assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article brings together the experiences of parents whose children are placed in out‐of‐home care (OHC) with the theoretical concept of moral injury. The findings are based on empirical data from a research and development project conducted in seven Swedish municipalities with the aim of developing support for such parents. This article draws on a data set of qualitative interviews with 40 parents, 30 mothers and 10 fathers, with children in OHC. The interview transcripts were analysed thematically, with an abductive approach to theories and the empirical data. The findings illustrate how parents of children in OHC experience moral injury in relation to seven aspects: professionals' morally problematic and distressing behaviour, problematic services, an adversarial system, systemic bias, parent's actions, children's withdrawal and feeling excluded. The injuries are related to events in several periods—prior to the child's removal, during the execution of removal and during OHC—and tend to last for many years. These findings stress that the social services must be aware of the injuries parents experience and must minimize the possible harm and moral injury. We also suggest that parents of children in OHC should have an appointed social worker as a means of support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has been reported to be disproportionately high among children in foster care compared with the general population. However, updated prevalence estimates of infants and children with FASD in foster care or the prevalence of placement of children with FASD in foster care make this unclear. This study examines two questions. Firstly, what is the prevalence of FASD among infants and children in foster care? Secondly, what is the likelihood of placement in foster care for infants and children with FASD? This review was designed using PRISMA‐SCR and JBI scoping review guidelines. Three databases were searched for the period June 2012 to June 2023: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Google Scholar for all countries. Overall prevalence estimates were calculated using a complementary log–log link model along with 95% confidence intervals. Firstly, the estimated prevalence of FASD among infants and children in foster care was 18.8%. Secondly, among children diagnosed with FASD 30.5% are placed into foster care, reflecting greatly increased risk of placement of infants and children with FASD in foster care. We conclude that routine screening for FASD is needed to improve the identification of infants and children with FASD. Increased attention is also needed on developing strategies for FASD prevention. Recognition that nearly one of every three children with FASD will enter foster care demonstrates the need for increased funding, enhanced training and greater availability of services for families and children impacted by FASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the underlying, unseen meanings accompanying the progressive verification of the reunification process experienced by American Indian fostered/adopted relatives who were separated from family of origin as children. Background: Reunification is most often explored as an outcome (i.e., a result) and few studies examine the process of reunification (i.e., what happens or what facilitates it) or the underlying meaning of the reunification process for American Indian fostered/adopted relatives. Method: A secondary data analysis was conducted on survey data from the Experiences of Adopted and Fostered Individuals Project. The sample consisted of 70 American Indian relatives who were fostered/adopted as children and reunified as adults. Thematic analysis was conducted on open‐ended survey data. Results: Four themes emanated from the data including: (1) searching, (2) facilitating, (3) calling home, and (4) repatriating. Participants searched for their families of origin using information and records (i.e., names of birth family, birth/adoption records). Reunification was facilitated by agencies, hired professionals, courts, and tribes. Relatives were called home by family, tribe, and ancestors. They repatriated through mail, phone, social media, and registries. Conclusion: This study contributed to the literature by using place identity theory to understand the progressive nature of the perceptions and comprehensions experienced by American Indian relatives during the reunification process. Place identity verification undergirds the process of reunification for American Indian fostered/adopted relatives including the underlying, unseen meanings that accompany the reunification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foster homes promote optimal outcomes among youth who experience difficulties in their original families. However, foster caregivers often face various challenges and difficulties. Guided by ecological framework, the current study examined how multiple factors from foster caregivers' surrounding environments impact satisfaction and retention among 462 foster caregivers in the United States. Regression analyses suggested that certain demographics, parenting characteristics, and agency characteristics were associated with foster care retention, levels of satisfaction, and overall foster care experience. To probe these findings further, results from latent profile analyses suggested that foster caregivers fell into two profiles—those who experienced a large amount of challenges or few challenges during their time as foster caregivers. On average, those who experienced few challenges reported significantly more satisfaction with foster caregiving, greater intention to continue fostering, and a better overall fostering experience compared with those who experienced more challenges. Implications and limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irritability reflects a propensity for frustration and anger, and is a transdiagnostic symptom of both externalizing and internalizing psychopathology. While early adverse experiences are associated with higher levels of irritability, experiences of early psychosocial deprivation and whether family-based placements can mitigate the impact on subsequent irritability, remain underexplored. The current study examined irritability in 107 16-year-olds with a history of institutional care from a randomized controlled trial of foster care as an alternative to institutional care and 49 community comparison children. At age 16 years, irritability was assessed using parent- and self-report forms of the Affective Reactivity Index. Compared to community adolescents, those with a history of institutional care exhibited significantly elevated irritability levels. Among those who experienced institutional care, those randomized to foster care had lower levels of irritability compared to participants randomized to the care-as-usual group, and this effect persists after controlling for baseline negative emotionality. These findings suggest a causal link between high-quality foster care and lower irritability following psychosocial deprivation. Additionally, longer duration in institutional care and non-family placement at age 16 years were associated with higher levels of irritability, highlighting the role of caregiving in explaining variation in irritability in adolescence. Policies that support long-term, high-quality family placements for children without regular caregivers should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the effects of exposure to synthetic cathinone drugs in pregnancy. We report five cases of pregnant women with opioid use disorder who tested positive for α-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone (alpha-PHP), a synthetic cathinone. We describe key characteristics of the course of disease and its treatment, as well as perinatal and treatment outcomes. We present a composite case example demonstrating relevant clinical issues. All cases of women with synthetic cathinone use were notable for decreased engagement in care and clinical signs associated with active substance use (difficulty maintaining personal hygiene, disorganized behavior suggestive of psychostimulant intoxication) despite reporting abstinence and testing negative for psychostimulants on standard urine toxicology testing. Four of the five women delivered prior to 38 weeks' gestation and infants of three of the mothers were placed in foster care at birth. It is not known to what degree synthetic cathinone use may have contributed to these adverse perinatal outcomes in these cases. Research on the effects and treatment of synthetic cathinones during pregnancy is needed to guide identification and treatment for women using these substances and to improve outcomes for mothers and infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop empirical tools for studying discrimination in multiphase systems and apply them to the setting of foster care placement by child protective services. Leveraging the quasi-random assignment of two sets of decision-makers—initial hotline call screeners and subsequent investigators—we study how unwarranted racial disparities arise and propagate through this system. Using a sample of over 200,000 maltreatment allegations, we find that calls involving Black children are 55% more likely to result in foster care placement than calls involving white children with the same potential for future maltreatment in the home. Call screeners account for up to 19% of this unwarranted disparity, with the remainder due to investigators. Unwarranted disparity is concentrated in cases with potential for future maltreatment, suggesting that white children may be harmed by "underplacement" in high-risk situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The transition to adulthood is especially critical for young people who have been in the child protection system, as they face significant challenges in areas such as education, mental health, employment, and economics. Methods: This qualitative study examines the perceptions of 20 young adults from Spain who have exited the child protection system regarding their transition to adulthood. Structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed using IRAMuTeQ software to identify thematic patterns. Results: The young adults reported inadequate preparation and a need for ongoing support, and they faced challenges in areas such as housing, employment, financial education, and mental health. They emphasized the importance of social and emotional support networks for successful adaptation. The results reveal a deficit in training programs and structural support, suggesting the need for a review of existing Spanish policies. Conclusions: Social educators play a crucial role in facilitating the transition to adulthood for young people who have been in protective systems in Spain, providing emotional support and resources to aid in their integration and autonomy. Effective coordination between institutional actors and Spanish society is vital to ensure a successful transition to adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored facilitators of and barriers to mental health services for children in foster care in a Southeastern state. We thematically analyzed 10 interviews with foster parents. Throughout the interviews, a wide range of facilitators and barriers that promote the use of mental health services among children in foster care at the child welfare system, children in foster care, foster parents, biological parents, and mental health provider levels, were identified. Findings suggest that all stakeholders must collaborate to address both systemic and individual barriers to improve the use of mental health services among children in foster care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study leverages an intersectional lens to characterize the therapeutic itineraries of local transgender (trans) communities vis-à-vis salient cisnormative and capitalist structures in Philippine society that produce trans health inequities. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of online interviews with thirteen (13) self-identified trans Filipinos reveals how the inaccessibility of trans-responsive care in the Philippines fosters trans health dilemmas, or the dilemmatic decision-making circumstances and processes that force trans Filipinos to choose between their trans-specific health needs and other needs. Such dilemmas valorize the deprioritization of trans health, disengagement with the health system, and the pursuit of alternative pathways to care oftentimes at the expense of their overall well-being. Addressing these dilemmas entails research, policy, and advocacy work that contend with the implicated structures of domination through systemic interventions initiated in partnership with local trans communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study relied on community‐based participatory action research and qualitative methodology to explore the necessary skills and knowledge psychotherapists need to work effectively with foster youth and their families. In this study, the research team conducted interviews and focus groups with stakeholders (n = 48) in child welfare to learn how to support therapeutic relationships with foster youth clients. Using qualitative content analysis, the research team identified eight categories for needed knowledge and/or skills, such as collaboration with and inclusion of others in a client's system; flexibility and open‐mindedness to individualize care follow the client's lead; and a solid understanding of trauma and attachment supported by therapist training and regular consultation specifically around foster care. These findings offer tangible suggestions for skills that psychotherapists can learn and practice in order to support beneficial mental health services for foster youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care in the Midwest. Of the youth who participated in the study, 32.2% indicated they were LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ youth were more likely to have been hospitalized for physical illness and emotional reasons and experience a great number of discriminatory experiences. LGBTQ+ youth were less likely to report being treated well in foster care and that they could be themselves in their placement. Findings suggest the need for increased LGBTQ+ tailored prevention services for families and policy and practice shifts within the child welfare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) allows states to use federal Title IV-E funds to provide time-limited, clinically appropriate use of congregate care, including Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs), for youth in foster care. October 1, 2021 marked the deadline for states to begin implementing these FFPSA congregate care reforms. From June to September 2022, we conducted a mixed-methods study to obtain a baseline understanding of implementation barriers, successes, and recommendations to inform congregate care policy and practice. METHODS: We fielded a national survey with state child welfare agency directors and conducted focus groups with youth with QRTP experiences, child welfare agency administrators, and QRTP executive leaders. We integrated a descriptive analysis of survey data with focus group themes to summarize state implementation progress. RESULTS: A total of 47 states (90%) responded to the survey. Most states reported ongoing congregate care reforms aligned with FFPSA, reducing the use of congregate care and increasing kinship foster care. QRTPs have become the primary congregate care setting. Top implementation barriers concerned workforce resource and capacity constraints, funding, and access to therapeutic foster care models and foster families. Focus group themes converged on the lack of tailored treatment, quality staff, coordinated aftercare, and a need for QRTP outcome evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Early implementation lessons of FFPSA congregate care reforms call for additional funding and technical assistance, oversight of congregate care, professionalization and investment in QRTP staff, youth advisory boards to promote youth-driven treatment, and performance- and outcome-based monitoring of QRTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides background information about kinship care, including defining terms and explaining placement decision-making. The benefits and unintended consequences of kinship placements are explored. Clinical interventions to support adolescents and young adults in kinship care are discussed, using two case studies that are integrated throughout the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their care of children and young people, foster carers report experiencing social isolation and a lack of support. This study examines the social network experiences of Australian foster carers who are members of Mockingbird Family. While well established in the United States and United Kingdom, Mockingbird Family was introduced to Australia offering a new approach to address the unique challenges of foster caring for vulnerable children and young people. The model geographically networks 6–10 foster care households in a 'constellation' with a central 'hub home provider' tasked with providing information, support, and respite care. This study employed a cross-sectional explanatory sequential mixed methods approach to investigate social connections and supports in the first four Australian Mockingbird Family constellations. A social network tool was used to survey participants (n = 27) and two focus groups (n = 20) to gather their experiences. Analysis found the highest mean social network connections with people from within their own Mockingbird Family constellations. Three measures of centrality were used indegree, betweenness and closeness, to report the connections and role of members within each constellation. Comparing constellations at different stages of maturity, the hub home provider was consistently ranked with high betweenness centrality as the bridge. In the longer-running constellations, the hub home provider was ranked with high indegree centrality or the primary source of advice or expert support. This indicated micro-network evolution that may potentially result in reduced reliance on statutory and other formal system supports over time. Changes to micro-dynamics in social support within constellations were explained qualitatively through three themes: leadership and expertise, information diffusion and communication, and trust and familiarity. Mockingbird Family was found to provide social connections and support networks amongst foster carers, indicating the model's capacity to strengthen supports to carers thereby strengthening the immediate environment of children and young people in care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• On average, adolescent housing insecurity led to a 6.4% increase in later CRP. • Increases in CRP levels due to adolescent housing insecurity accumulate over time. • Adolescent housing insecurity in mid-adolescence had the strongest effect on CRP. • Impact of one episode of adolescent housing insecurity on CRP may last 3 + years. • Effect of adolescent housing insecurity on CRP held when controlling for poverty. Adolescent housing insecurity is a dynamic form of social adversity that impacts child health outcomes worldwide. However, the means by which adolescent housing insecurity may become biologically embedded to influence health outcomes over the life course remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to utilize life course perspectives and advanced causal inference methods to evaluate the potential for inflammation to contribute to the biological embedding of adolescent housing insecurity. Using prospective data from the Great Smoky Mountains Study, we investigated the relationship between adolescent housing insecurity and whole-blood spot samples assayed for C-reactive protein (CRP). Adolescent housing insecurity was created based on annual measures of frequent residential moves, reduced standard of living, forced separation from the home, and foster care. Annual measures of CRP ranged from 0.001 mg/L to 13.6 mg/L (median = 0.427 mg/L) and were log 10 transformed to account for positively skewed values. We used g-estimation of structural nested mean models to estimate a series of conditional average causal effects of adolescent housing insecurity on CRP levels from ages 11 to 16 years and interpreted the results within life course frameworks of accumulation, recency, and sensitive periods. Of the 1,334 participants, 427 [44.3 %] were female. Based on the conditional average causal effect, one exposure to adolescent housing insecurity from ages 11 to 16 years led to a 6.4 % (95 % CI = 0.69 – 12.4) increase in later CRP levels. Exposure at 14 years of age led to a 27.9 % increase in CRP levels at age 15 (95 % CI = 6.5 – 53.5). Recent exposures to adolescent housing insecurity (<3 years) suggested stronger associations with CRP levels than distant exposures (>3 years), but limited statistical power prevented causal conclusions regarding recency effects at the risk of a Type II Error. These findings highlight inflammation—as indicated by increased CRP levels—as one potential mechanism for the biological embedding of adolescent housing insecurity. The results also suggest that adolescent housing insecurity—particularly recent, repeated, and mid-adolescent exposures—may increase the risk of poor health outcomes and should be considered a key intervention target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norwegian youth in out‐of‐home care move three times as frequently as their peers. Such placement instability is linked to negative outcomes in terms of social attachment, well‐being, educational achievements, health, and future opportunities. Norway implemented a new child welfare service reform in 2022 that increased the municipalities responsibilities for out‐of‐home care. The "incentive package" and "Barneløftet" were measures implemented to prepare the municipalities for these changes. This study evaluates how the implemented measures affect the number of moves within out‐of‐home care in Trøndelag county. An event‐study design with difference‐in‐difference estimates was used to study the effect of the measures. The data are Norwegian registers that include most children in out‐of‐home care from 2013 to 2021. The findings of this study indicate that increased support for foster care homes significantly reduces the number of moves. Increased placement stability is associated with an increased sense of belonging, thus facilitating positive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disruption is prevalent among children placed in foster care, elevating risk for a range of deleterious outcomes. Theoretically, achieving permanency via adoption may have a positive influence on children's sleep via the presence of various factors, but little is known about the sleep health of children adopted from foster care, including predictors and moderators of sleep health. The current study included 226 parents who adopted a child from foster care in the U.S. (aged 4–11 years) within the past two years and a propensity score matched sample of 379 caregivers of children currently in foster care. Both samples completed online questionnaires about their child's sleep, physical, and mental health. Comparatively, children in foster care experienced more nightmares, night terrors, moving to someone else's' bed during the night, and worse overall sleep quality, whereas adopted children were reported to experience significantly more nighttime awakenings. In the adopted sample, a greater number of prior foster placements unexpectedly predicted lower total sleep disturbance scores, but this relationship was moderated by parent–child interactions around sleep. In general, greater parental involvement in children's sleep was associated with lower levels of child sleep disturbance. Findings suggest that while specific sleep problems might remit after children in foster care achieve permanence, nighttime sleep fragmentation often persists. Parent–child interactions surrounding sleep may be pivotal in improving sleep health in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional quality of life (ProQOL) refers to workers' subjective feelings associated with work involved in helping others who have experienced trauma. It consists of positive and negative aspects, that is, subscales of compassion satisfaction, and burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Foster and kinship caring inherently involves risks associated with exposure to the trauma responses of children in their care. This exposure can lead to poor ProQOL, carer attrition, and placement instability. While limited studies specifically explore ProQOL of carers, many studies have examined factors and interventions related to ProQOL. However, there is a lack of synthesis of these studies. To fill such a research gap, we undertook a scoping review of 70 empirical studies from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, published from 2012 to 2022 reporting on ProQOL, and its related factors and concepts. We applied a multilevel ecosocial construct to examine complex interrelationships between private and governance settings to better understand factors related to ProQOL of carers and interventions aimed to improve it in these dynamic systems. In our review, some studies showed positive outcomes for carers, such as reduced stress or burnout associated with training. However, there was insufficient attention to factors associated with ProQOL at relational and sociopolitical levels. It is crucial to improve carers' ProQOL or well-being to ensure their retention and placement stability. Long-term systemic improvements require interventions across different levels of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people who grow up in care and then exit care around the age of 18 (care-leavers) are a particularly vulnerable group, at increased risk for mental health problems even relative to other care-experienced groups. Yet, little is understood about the factors underpinning this association. We used scoping review methods to synthesize the quantitative and qualitative literature on factors that are associated with mental health problems for care-leavers. Following rigorous methods, we systematically searched three scientific databases spanning psychology and social care and identified 23 peer-reviewed studies for inclusion. This review highlights the heterogeneity of this research, in terms of methodology and topics investigated. Topics included are as follows: pre-care maltreatment, care-related experiences, psychological factors (emotion regulation), social support, education, and adult functioning (e.g., housing, finances, employment). We found mixed and inconsistent findings across research studies. The strongest evidence-base is around the influence of social support upon the mental health of recent care-leavers, though methodological problems are discussed. The field benefits from several large-scale observational and longitudinal research studies. However, there is an over-reliance upon retrospective reporting, and the use of unvalidated measures is common. It is apparent that there are significant gaps in our current understanding of the mental health of care-leavers, in particular around modifiable factors. We discuss potential directions for future empirical research, both in terms of methodology and factors investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: It is widely recognised that young people in out-of-home care are often involved in a complex process of culminating disadvantage and exclusion. Investing in the core ingredients of social inclusion (participation and interpersonal relationships) while still in care can counterbalance ongoing exclusion processes. In this article, we explore how early work experiences (before the age of 18) can play a role in this. Findings: A thematic analysis was performed on interview data from 74 young adults in six countries. Several elements promote community participation (gaining financial autonomy, gaining a feeling of independence, and being able to contribute as a worker) and help to develop a sense of belonging (striving for normality and building long-lasting social connections). Early work experiences also contribute to personal growth (building capabilities and shaping the future). Applications: This article highlights how early work experiences have the potential to promote social inclusion for out-of-home care-experienced young people and serve as gateway experiences for both educational and work trajectories. Entry into the world of work should not be postponed until the age of 18. Caregivers can play a role in motivating young people to work while still being in care and helping them to find a job. The experiences gained during these early work experiences can also have a place in the care process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is growing recognition of the importance of meaningful youth participation in activities and decisions which impact their lives, facilitating such engagement within different forums requires varied approaches. A programme of youth research at one Western Australian university has sought to embed pathways for ongoing youth participation in longitudinal research. In particular, we discuss Navigating Through Life, a large‐scale WA research project comprising three sub‐studies exploring young people's transitions from out of home care (OOHC) to independence. We established a youth advisory group to run alongside the project and employed peer researchers to conduct research tasks. In this paper, we seek to explicate the development and various iterations of youth participation in the project. We utilise our reflections, interview data and documentation from YAG meetings and feedback sessions with the peer researchers to illustrate the processes of transformation and flexibility required to develop and maintain youth participation in various ways across the project's life. Drawing on our findings and current literature, we highlight how funding bodies and researchers must consider the additional needs, unique and changeable life circumstances of young people to best facilitate their involvement in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on foster youth often focuses on risk, rather than adaptation, strengths, and assets. Some researchers have shifted the narrative by examining resiliency, but there is limited understanding on how to define and measure resilience specifically among current and former foster youth. This study begins with a meta-synthesis of the qualitative research (n = 31, 1990-2020) that discuss resilience with foster youth. We then examine data from twenty-two qualitative interviews regarding resilience with key stakeholders in child welfare. The findings inform an understanding of resiliency that is inclusive and culturally responsive to current and former foster youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent living (IL) skills can assist youth in and aging out of foster care transition to adulthood. Research consistently documents that youth aging out of foster care are resilient, yet often face challenges developing self-sufficiency. Using National Youth Transition Database (NYTD) data for Florida, this study examined receipt of IL services and outcomes for youth at ages 17 and 19. Results showed most youth did not receive IL services across several domains. Many youth experienced homelessness, incarceration, and substance abuse referrals after leaving care. Findings suggest that child welfare professionals should ensure that youth receive IL services while in foster care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there have been reports of children without placement (CWOP) in foster care, often resulting in youth sleeping in hotels or child protective service offices. This study explored perspectives of the current crisis among child welfare practitioners who managed CWOP cases. We conducted interviews with 11 child welfare practitioners who had graduated from two universities in a Southern state. Themes aligned with the trauma-informed framework and highlighted challenges related to organizational climate, workforce development, and trauma-informed services. Implications include strategies for cross-sector collaboration, specific training, and continued research to support a healthy, trauma-informed workforce that can better meet youth needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]