Strengths-Based Mental Health Care for Transition-Age Foster Youth

Background and Purpose

As youth near the transition to adulthood and aging out of the foster care system, exposure to stress increases, especially for youth who have less than adequate support systems. Although the mental health needs of foster youth often continue as they transition to adulthood, discontinuation of mental health services is common. This may be due to systemic barriers or be related to dissatisfaction with services. Meeting the mental health needs of transition-age foster youth requires understanding how they experience services as implemented in the real-world, and what aspects of this support they find most helpful. This study sought to explore what situations were helpful in supporting mental health as foster youth transitioned to adulthood.

Methods

Convenience sampling was used to recruit former foster youth to participate in a two-phase, sequential exploratory study in a southwestern state. Focus groups with 29 former foster youth and interviews with 8 professionals in the community were conducted as part of a situational analysis in phase one of the study. Thematic analysis was used to sort and review the situations, resulting in an inventory which was administered as a measure of social validity in phase two. Participants (N = 224) in phase two were asked to rate the frequency and intensity of supportive situations. Statistical analyses examined the most supportive and frequently encountered situations former foster youth experienced in meeting their mental health needs as they transitioned from care.

Results

Findings indicate the most helpful situations were those in which supportive adults honored their choices and collaborated in decision-making. For example, 67% of former foster youth reported experiencing the situation “You had a mentor/staff who helped you learn how to advocate for yourself. They helped you prepare for meetings so you felt confident in communicating your concerns and questions,” at least daily, weekly, or monthly. Participants also valued mentors who were responsive and flexible to their individual needs. Sixty percent of former foster youth reported professionals and mentors who “took the time to break down tasks into steps,” and “went with you to accomplish tasks for the first time, to walk you through the process." Participants also reported situations in which connecting with other foster youth was helpful, especially when there were opportunities for mentorship and leadership, indicating their value of shared experience and engagement with others.

Conclusions and Implications

The current study moves beyond recognizing the importance of formal and informal supports and identifies specific skills and behaviors related to engagement that can impact outcomes for foster youth after turning 18. Responding to the individualized needs and actively engaging young adults in the relationship builds trust and confidence in the foster youth’s belief they can accomplish tasks independently. The situations emphasized as most helpful are congruent with family-centered, strengths-based practice principles of collaboration, empowerment, individualized services, and preserving relationships. Engaging, empowering, and partnering with transition-age youth from a strengths-based perspective may increase the likelihood of positive mental health outcomes for this population.