The Experiences of Older Youth in and Aged out of Foster Care during COVID-19: Health and Social Connectedness

Background and Purpose: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts all segments of the population, it is especially harmful to members of social groups in the most vulnerable situations, including current and former foster youth. Considerable research attention is warranted to clarify the needs and experiences of this vulnerable community in disaster contexts. The purpose of our study was to understand the health, mental health, and social challenges experienced by older youth in and recently aged out of foster care (ages 18-23) during one month of the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods: In April 2020, young people with foster care history were recruited to participate in an online survey. Data were collected using non-probability sampling and a cross-sectional survey design. Our final analysis sample (N=281) came from 32 states and 191 cities. We conducted Chi-squared tests of independence and Independent Samples t tests to explore relationships between sociodemographic variables and the pandemic-related adversities reported across race, gender identity, and foster care status subgroups.

Results: Participants were almost evenly split between those still in care (47%) and aged out of care (53%). Seventy-six percent were cisgender female. Whites (39%), Blacks (32%), and Multiracial youth (13%) comprised the largest race groups. Twenty-three percent of respondents of any race were of Latinx ethnicity.

Half of respondents reported that COVID-19 had negatively impacted their health care. Nearly one quarter of respondents (n=64) had trouble accessing mental health care or therapy; 14.6% had difficulties accessing needed medical care; 10.3% had trouble getting medication(s); and 2.1% reported difficulties accessing substance or alcohol use counseling during the COVID-19 crisis. Half of respondents screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents reported having at least one adult in their life (other than a caseworker), and 46.3% reported having friends, on whom they could rely for advice and/or support during the pandemic. Roughly one third of respondents either wished they had more social connections (19.2%) or felt like they were entirely or almost entirely on their own (14.2%) during the pandemic. Asked to describe the impact of COVID-19 on visits with family members, 28.1% of respondents indicated that their family visits had switched to an all-virtual format. Roughly one in five respondents (n=60) reported that family visits had decreased or stopped altogether.

Regarding their access to communications technology, 80.8% of respondents indicated that they had reliable access to a cell phone; 70.8% had reliable access to the internet; and 58.7% had reliable access to a computer.

Conclusions and Implications: Findings suggest that COVID-19 has created barriers to health care service access and inhibited social connectedness for many current and former foster youth. Child welfare agencies should prioritize targeted interventions to enhance relational connectedness and strengthen social support networks. Concrete resources such as personal computers and wifi hotspots can help to ensure service continuity and facilitate virtual visitation in disaster scenarios. Finally, additional research is warranted to examine the moderating effects of gender on pandemic-related adversities.