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Innovation in Sexuality and Relationship Education in Child Welfare: Shifting Toward a Focus on Ongoing Conversations, Connection, and Consent.

Authors :
Ball B
Hoefer S
Faulkner M
Requenes A
Brooks T
Munoz G
Pacheco E
Poland C
Salmeron C
Zelaya AB
Source :
Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research [Prev Sci] 2023 Dec; Vol. 24 (Suppl 2), pp. 163-173. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jan 11.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Youth in foster care experience disproportionate rates of abusive relationships, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Extant research points to the need for interventions at multiple levels of the social ecology, however, there is a lack of evidence to guide the development of coordinated interventions for youth, foster parents, and child welfare professionals. The Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI) convened a multidisciplinary learning community to build a foundation for intervention development. The intentional learning and innovation process engaged several groups of stakeholders: young adults with lived experience (n = 41), foster parents (n = 14), and child welfare professionals (n = 52). Interviews, community listening sessions, and reflection exercises were designed to capture tacit and experiential knowledge and explore challenges and desired outcomes from different perspectives. Based on a thematic analysis of stakeholder perspectives, we identified overarching needs to normalize conversations about sexuality and relationships and shift away from risk-based and stigmatizing approaches. We also identified key strategies for designing coordinated interventions targeting youth, foster parents, and child welfare professionals: (1) Reflect on values about sexuality and relationships. (2) Validate youths' need for connection. (3) Focus on strengthening youth-adult relationships and ongoing conversations. (4) Build healthy relationship skills including communication about consent, condom use, and contraception. (5) Identify teachable moments and model problem solving. (6) Use interactive approaches for sharing health information and empower youth to choose methods that fit their needs.<br /> (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1573-6695
Volume :
24
Issue :
Suppl 2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36630023
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01476-z