Young People In Residential Care Research Articles

Disruption and adaptation: The school mobility experience of young people in residential care

Changing schools can negatively impact educational success. Young people in residential care appear particularly subject to such changes and thereby more likely to experience the associated challenges. This article aims to better understand the experience of changing schools among youth in group or residential care placements. We carried out a qualitative interpretive study based on biographical interviews of 35 young people aged 14 to 18. Results show that school mobility remains in Quebec, Canada, a common practice that disrupts the education of young people. Our analysis of their experiences also illustrates how these disruptions can negatively affect their educational experience. It identifies factors that could facilitate school career continuity and improve adaptation. These include involving young people in decision-making, promoting collaboration between schools and social services and between individual schools, improving understanding of the realities of these young people among teachers, particularly in the regular school system, and providing procedural and relationship support to maintain and develop friendships when changing schools.

Family Support, Resilience, and Life Goals of Young People in Residential Care.

Establishing goals for young people in residential care (RC) is a gap in the literature, especially in terms of the relationship between family support and resilience. The literature suggests that RC is associated with the breakdown of family relationships, so the possibility of the family playing a positive role in establishing life goals for young people is reduced. However, family support in the context of organization and stability can be assumed to be a protective factor for the formulation of life goals and contribute to the resilient development of young people. This study aimed to analyze the role of family support in the process of setting goals for young people in RC, as well as to analyze the potential mediating role of resilience in the previous association. The sample included 124 young people aged between 12 and 23 years living in RC. The results point to a positive association between family support (autonomy) and the planning of life goals and verify the total mediating effect of resilience in this association. The results are discussed considering attachment theory and the role of the family in the adaptive development of young people. This study's findings provide important indications for developing future interventions.

Experiences of Child and Youth Care Workers in Managing Challenging Behaviours of Young People in Residential Care in South Africa

Experiences of Child and Youth Care Workers in Managing Challenging Behaviours of Young People in Residential Care in South Africa

The educational experience of young people in residential care through the lens of learning careers

AbstractTo complement previous research investigating the educational attainment of young people in out‐of‐home care reporting lower educational outcomes and risk factors, a more comprehensive approach is necessary. Our objective with this article is to better understand the learning careers of young people in residential care. That includes documenting their experience and the meaning they attribute to learning in formal settings over time and identifying critical turning points in each young person's learning career. Based on an interpretative paradigm, we conducted a qualitative study using biographical interviews with young people aged 14–18 in residential care in Quebec, Canada. We first demonstrate that the learning careers of young people in residential care are unique and non‐linear. Second, by studying turning points, we highlight the critical role that institutions, teachers and youth workers can play in fostering a positive or negative learning career. Finally, we noted learners’ different responses to these circumstances and differences in learners’ perception of their measured performance and their influence on their engagement with formal learning. We discuss why considering young people as the main actors and producers of meaning regarding their educational experience and learning careers appears necessary.

Purpose and Mattering as Dimensions of Meaning for Young People in Residential Care from Romania

Purpose and Mattering as Dimensions of Meaning for Young People in Residential Care from Romania

Placement Matching of Children and Young People within Out-of-Home Residential Care: A Qualitative Analysis

Residential care for children and young people is typically regarded as the least preferred option in out-of-home care by child welfare and protection practitioners. Increasingly, residential care is only used to place young people after multiple unsuccessful placements in kinship or foster care. Consequently, these young people often come into residential care with complex needs and entrenched emotional and behavioural difficulties. Coplacement of these young people in residential care has raised significant and persistent concern of peer victimisation while in residential care. Improved matching of peers within residential care may enhance safety and stability, a proposal for which young people themselves have expressed support. However, the matching of young people in residential care has received little attention in research. This article reports the qualitative findings of a multiinformant study, drawing on the first-hand experiences of 34 participants comprising eight young people and 26 practitioners in residential care, to identify the considerations they perceived as important when matching young people in residential care. Framework analysis of young people's and practitioners’ perspectives identified three matching strategies that may more effectively address the concern of peer victimisation in residential care including (1) balancing risks and strengths; (2) steering into collective duty of care; and (3) involving young people in planning and transition. Implications of the findings directly point to the need to prioritise young people’s rights to protection and participation, and to provide independent oversight to assist residential care organisations and the broader child welfare system to navigate the complexity in the practice of matching young people in residential care.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASPIRATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AMONG QUEBEC YOUTH IN RESIDENTIAL CARE WHO ARE AT THE EDGE OF TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

This article explores the development of aspirations among young people in residential care who are on the cusp of adulthood, and the relationship between their aspirations and their educational experience. We examine the specific aspirations of young people, what shapes those aspirations, and how they interact with their educational experience. This article is based on a qualitative study that aimed to better understand the educational experience of young people in residential care in the Canadian province of Quebec. Biographical interviews were conducted with 35 young people aged 14 to 18. Our analysis demonstrates that, while many seem quite able to project themselves into the future, some appear to see their placement situation and its accompanying uncertainty as an obstacle to doing so. It also suggests that educational and professional aspirations can transform young people’s educational experiences and the meaning that they attribute to formal education, as well as influence their intention to pursue further education. Finally, our results offer a critical look at how youth construct their aspirations, and demonstrate the importance of providing conditions that allow and encourage youth in residential care to develop and pursue varied aspirations.

Meeting the nutrition and physical activity needs of young people in residential out-of-home care

Summary Health outcomes for young people living in residential out-of-home care are poor. There has been increased emphasis on the need to prioritize preventative support and upskill residential care workers to better meet young people's health needs. The aim of this study was to examine the food quality and physical activity environment in residential care houses in Victoria, Australia prior to staff undertaking Healthy Eating, Active Living Matters (HEAL) training; 102 residential care houses participated. House representatives completed an online survey exploring: (1) physical activity equipment and engagement and (2) weekly food budget and expenditure. Findings The average weekly food expenditure per household was $318.98 (SD = $106.51), with variation between different sized households. The majority (61%) of houses’ weekly food expenditure was spent on ultra-processed food products that are ready to eat with no/little preparation, in comparison to 36% spent on unprocessed foods (fresh fruit and vegetables). The majority of houses reported having two types of equipment. Young people were not often engaged in physical and/or recreational activities in their community. Application Residential care houses in Victoria require additional supports to ensure that young people are supported to eat well and be active at home and in the community. HEALing Matters aims to provide this, by offering professional development for residential carers to better facilitate engagement in physical activity and healthy eating among the young people in their care. If successful, HEALing Matters may provide an effective pathway to improved health and wellbeing outcomes for young people in residential care.

Changes in Mental Health of Children and Young People in Residential Care: Outcomes and Associated Factors.

Several studies have evidenced that children in out-of-home care (OOHC), including foster family care and residential care, reveal high levels of mental health disorders (ranging from 40% to 88%). This study examines the outcomes in mental health reported by key residential workers in a group of children and youth (N = 492) between 8-17 years old who were in residential child care (RCC) in Spain. The research also aims to explore the relationship between mental health outcomes and the provision of mental health services (i.e., receiving any mental health treatment) as well as the influence of child, family, and placement factors. The design of this study includes two measures: a baseline (T1) and a follow-up two years later (T2). The results indicated that 29.9% of young people enjoyed sustained mental health; 26% meaningful improvement in their mental health; 23.5% meaningful deterioration; and the remaining 20.5% showed no meaningful change. One of the main findings was that receiving mental health treatment had a significant impact on mental health outcomes. It is crucial to establish protocols and systematic detection tools to assess mental health and ensure detection and referral to proper treatment.

The time and community dimensions in socio-educational intervention strategies with adolescents in care during the transition to adult life

The quality of protective action is related to the conditions in which the emancipation of adolescents in care occurs. The dimensions of timing and community are considered determinants for achieving the goals of the transition to adult life. The research aims to analyze which strategies professional teams use to adapt intervention times to individual needs and which scenarios of interaction with the community are facilitated during the emancipation itineraries. A qualitative investigation organized in three phases according to the grounded theory was designed. Two focus groups were carried out in which 11 professionals participated, 70 interviews in 22 longitudinal follow-ups for 12 months with young people in residential care, and eight interviews with already emancipated youth. The results indicate that professional teams use various strategies to try to minimize the impact of the deficits of the system, which provides insufficient accompaniment times. Institutional organizational design hinders the performance of community activities. It is concluded that the protection system needs to implement improvements that eliminate the deficits in the dimensions analyzed.

Lifestyle Medicine Programmes for Children and Young People in Residential Care.

Lifestyle Medicine Programmes for Children and Young People in Residential Care.

What was care like for me? A systematic review of the experiences of young people living in residential care

Residential care can be a relevant option for young people with behavioural problems considered beyond the capacity of the young person’s own home or foster care to manage. While some care home residents go on to excel in life, others do not. Understanding how young people’s experiences of residential care impact on their well-being might help us improve the outcome possibilities for individual residents. This systematic review of qualitative research aimed to synthesize and identify the experience of living in residential care and suggest how these findings can enhance the well-being of this group in the future. Five relevant databases were searched for qualitative empirical studies published between 1990 and January 2020. Twelve papers met the inclusion criteria. The studies were thematically synthesised to produce findings.Four high-order analytical themes were constructed: autonomy and control; relationships and support; safety and security; and, child to adult transitions in care. These high-order themes revealed a varied experience of care with some young people experiencing stability and security as well as support towards achieving normative milestones. For others the findings revealed experiences of not being heard and understood by the care institution, creating experiences of poor well-being and a reduction in agentic development. In addition, peer relationships were experienced both positively as friendships and support developed within some care homes and negatively when the peer group accepted bullying and violence as normative behaviour. This review recommends further research into how the care community culture impacts on young people. Finally, this review calls for research on how agency is developed and supported among young people in residential care, and how poorer psychological well-being can be better understood within the realm of residential care.

Adolescents’ Resilience in Residential Care: A Systematic Review of Factors Related to Healthy Adaptation

Research with young people in Residential Care (RC) has primarily focused on mental health problems, overlooking resilience and adaptation. Considering that previous trauma experiences and adversity (e.g., previous abuse and neglect) cannot be changed, it is critical to identify the current protective factors of adaptation in RC. Purpose: this systematic review aims to identify the protective factors or the resilience portfolio that may be positively associated with adolescents’ healthy adaptation in RC. Method: based on the PRISMA statement and using a combination of keywords related with RC, adolescents, resilience, and adaptation a search in eight databases was conducted in November 2020: Academic Search Complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, ERIC, MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus. This search yielded 4442 articles and 11 studies met our inclusion criteria. Results: Overall, the studies reported protective factors at different levels, namely, individual assets, resources from different contexts (family, RC, and community), appraisals and coping behavior. Conclusion: this review highlighted the importance of exploring resilience as a dynamic process of assets and resources rather than as a stable individual attribute. This review aims to contribute to a deep discussion about resilience in RC, informing policy-making and professional practices and enhancing young people’s adaptation in RC.

A Social-Emotional Learning Program for Suicide Prevention through Animal-Assisted Intervention.

Simple SummaryYouth suicide is a global public health problem. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the age group between 15 and 29 years, after injuries due to traffic accidents, tuberculosis, and interpersonal violence. For this reason, the reduction of mortality by suicide is one of the WHO’s priority objectives. Here we describe a pilot study evaluating the OverCome-AAI program, a pioneering animal-assisted intervention for preventing suicidal behavior. After the intervention, the young people showed reductions in suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-harm, as well as a greater predisposition to seek help. Mental pain was less intense, although no changes in symptoms of hopelessness or depression were found. The results of this pilot study suggest that the inclusion of specially prepared and trained animals can promote socio-emotional learning for preventing suicidal behavior in high-risk populations.The aim of the study was to carry out a pilot implementation and evaluation of the OverCome-AAI program, a pioneering program for the prevention of suicidal behavior through animal-assisted interventions for young people with high risk factors for suicidal behavior. The study sample consisted of 30 adolescents (11 boys and 19 girls) aged between 14 and 17 years (Mean age = 15.50, SD = 1.60) from the Basque Country (Northern Spain). After the intervention, subjects presented reductions in suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and non-suicidal self-harm, as well as a greater predisposition to seek help. A reduction in the intensity of mental pain was also found, although no differences were observed in indicators of hopelessness and depression. The preliminary results obtained in this pilot study suggest that the OverCome-AAI program may be effective in reducing suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-harm in young people in residential care who present high risk factors for suicide.

Now and then: a ten-year comparison of young people in residential substance use disorder treatment receiving group dialectical behaviour therapy

BackgroundReducing substance use in youth is a global health priority. We compared two cohorts from the same 12-week residential substance use disorder (SUD) facility over a 10 year period: Cohort A (2008–2009) and Cohort B (2018–2020). The essential components of the program remained the same with the primary treatment being dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) plus residential milieu.MethodsYoung people in the current Cohort B (N = 100) versus historical Cohort A (N = 102) had a similar ratio of males (74 vs. 70%) but were slightly older (mean 20.6 vs. 19.5 years). Linear mixed models were used to model outcome measures (global psychiatric symptoms, substance use severity, and quality of life) longitudinally up to 12 months later.ResultsBaseline to end-of-treatment comparisons showed that the current Cohort B had overall higher levels of global psychiatric symptoms (d = 0.70), but both groups reduced psychiatric symptoms (Cohort A: d = 1.05; Cohort B: d = 0.61), and had comparable increases in confidence to resist substance use (d = 0.95). Longitudinal data from the current Cohort B showed significant decreases in substance use severity from baseline to 6-month follow-up (d = 1.83), which were sustained at 12-month follow-up (d = 0.94), and increases in quality of life from baseline to end-of-treatment (d = 0.83).ConclusionsWe demonstrate how DBT plus milieu residential care for young people continues to show positive effects in a 10-year comparison. However, youth seeking treatment today compared to 10 years ago evidenced higher acuity of psychiatric symptoms reinforcing the importance of continuous improvement of psychological treatments.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: trial IDACTRN12618000866202, retrospectively registered on 22/05/2018, .

Interventions and Practice Models for Improving Health and Psychosocial Outcomes for Children in Residential Out-of-Home Care: Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Young people in residential out-of-home care often exhibit health and psychosocial challenges, which can emerge from childhood trauma. A body of research has examined the wellbeing of these young people; however, the ways in which interventions and practice models can improve the health and psychosocial wellbeing of young people in out-of-home care remains unclear. A systematic review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of interventions and practice models for improving health and psychosocial outcomes of young people in residential care and to identify relevant knowledge gaps. After a worldwide search, only four studies, from Australia (n = 2), USA (n = 1), and Canada (n = 1) were found. These studies evaluated Cognitive Behaviour Treatment, Healthy Eating Active Living, Power Through Choices and the Alternate Care Clinic. These studies aimed to improve numerous health and psychosocial outcomes including mental health, behaviour, obesity, pregnancy and sex. Despite limited evidence, the review suggests that contemporary interventions and practice models do have the potential to have positive impacts on the health and psychosocial outcomes of young people in residential care. Rigorous assessment of promising evidence-based interventions is urgently needed to advance best practice and improve outcomes. IMPLICATIONS Therapeutic and psychosocial approaches have significant impacts on the health and psychosocial wellbeing of young people in residential out-of-home care. Interventions and practice models within residential out-of-home care should incorporate trauma-informed care and psychoeducation. Findings from this review may guide the design and implementation of interventions and practice models in out-of-home care as well highlighting knowledge gaps for future research in this field.

Using sexual health and safety education to protect against child sexual abuse in residential care: The LINC model

AbstractChildren and young people living in residential care are vulnerable to sexual abuse, and there is scant evidence about what sexuality education could help address this vulnerability. This paper explores the impact of the Power to Kids: Respecting Sexual Safety programme, which involved capacity‐building workers to have ‘brave conversations’ with children and young people in residential care. The aim of the study was to capture the perceptions of workers about changes in their skill and confidence levels in relation to having brave conversations with children and young people and the impact of those conversations on children and young people. A mixed‐methods study was undertaken, involving multiple sets of interviews with 27 workers associated with four residential houses. The qualitative and quantitative data analysis showed that workers perceived the impact of the capacity building and brave conversations as strengthening protective factors available to children and young people vulnerable to sexual abuse. The research revealed the ‘LINC model’ as a viable approach to capacity‐building workers to educate children and young people in residential care about sexual health and safety. Workers perceived the enhancement of the following protective factors: stronger safe relationships, greater comfort disclosing abuse and improved knowledge of normal versus harmful sexual behaviour.

Debate: The greater the needs the lesser the evidence - therapeutic residential care for young people.

In this debate article, we provide our thoughts and reflections on the issues and uses of Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC) in child welfare systems in the US and England. We highlight the issues associated with the lack of clarity of how TRC is defined and when and how it is used. The premise for the article is that some of our most vulnerable young people are living in residential homes without there being a sufficient evidence base to understand whether their needs are being adequately met, or the best outcomes are being achieved. We set out some suggested elements to try to progress debates and decisions that will ultimately improve the services and placements that are provided.

Physical activity: Exploring the barriers and facilitators for the engagement of young people in residential care in Ireland

• Adversity impacts YP engagement in PA. • YP identity is predominantly determined by their current status as a child in care. • PA offers significant opportunity for identity and relationship development. • Staff recognise the impact of trauma and the care environment on YP and their engagement in PA. • Shared PA activities with staff are the most effective strategies for engaging YP. Physical activity (PA) is recognised as an important health behaviour associated with a range of physical and psychological benefits for young people (YP). In addition to having experienced significant adverse life events this population of YP can be at a greater risk of experiencing ongoing adversity than their peers. PA is recognised as a strategy to working alongside these YP to allow them to reach their full potential, whilst recognising the significant barriers in their lives. The current research was designed to explore PA engagement of YP living in residential care settings in Ireland. Twenty-five staff working with YP within residential care were interviewed to explore their perceptions of the barriers and facilitators for PA engagement for this group of young people. There was a dominant theme throughout the interviews of the positive impact of PA on YP living in residential care. Social and individual factors were identified as a positive outcome from engagement, whilst simultaneously recognised as presenting significant barriers to YP’s engagement. Similar to previous research with vulnerable YP, the role of identity and relationships was identified as an important consideration for enhancing engagement, and as a positive outcome. The staff working with YP indicated an awareness of the need to adapt a trauma informed practice to enhance engagement in PA and frequently adapted their role to do this. The results are discussed in the context of identifying strategies for the development of opportunities for PA engagement, in order to enhance positive outcomes for this population of vulnerable YP, within the residential care setting and the beyond.

Entre dos Sistemas: los Jóvenes Tutelados en Acogimiento Residencial con Medidas Judiciales

Youths in residential care (RC) are over-represented in the population of juvenile offenders. Some authors consider that entering the protection system is a risk factor for developing criminal behavior, whereas others consider that the two groups (non-offenders and offenders in RC) only share risk factors. The objective of this study is to compare profiles of youth in RC according to whether or not they have received judicial measures. The sample consists of 281 young people in RC, of whom 35 (12.4p) were juvenile offenders. Files were analyzed and the results indicate that young offenders in RC were older when they entered the protection system, had exerted violence against their parents, who could not control them, and had consumption and school adaptation problems. These results are discussed in the light of existing literature.