Understanding Racial/Ethnic Identity Shifts Among Emerging Adults with Foster Care Experience

Background and Purpose: The racial/ethnic identity development process begins in early childhood and more rapidly develops in adolescence and emerging adulthood as youth learn about their culture and heritage. Young people with experience in child welfare face unique barriers to racial/ethnic identity development such as denied or delayed access to family history, placement in transracial or transethnic foster homes, and blocked access to relatives and others with shared racial/ethnic identity. While racial/ethnic identity development is a complex process, it is often oversimplified in quantitative analysis. The current study explores the meaning young people ascribe to their racial/ethnic identity development and how their views and identification of race/ethnicity have changed over time.

Methods: The current study partnered with the Jim Casey Initiative’s Opportunity Passport program and foster youth-serving organizations across the country to interview current/former foster youth who changed how they racially/ethnically identify. The research team comprises trained researchers, youth research advisors, and young people with lived foster care experience who served as local recruitment champions in sites across the country. All research team members received human subjects research training and were compensated for their time and expertise. Youth research advisors co-designed interview protocols, coded interview transcripts, and developed thematic linkages across codes. Local recruitment champions customized recruitment materials to appeal foster youth at their sites. Interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams and lasted 30 minutes. All participants received a $45 incentive for their participation. Study findings will be shared with participants to ensure we adequately captured their experiences and perspectives.

Results: We interviewed 29 young people with an average age of 24 (range of 19-34 years). Of the 29 participants, 18 people (62%) identified as female/women, 5 people (17%) identified as male/men, and 1 person (3%) identified as non-binary. The remaining 5 people (17%) declined to state their current gender identity. Young people reported many different factors contributing to their racial/ethnic identity changes over time including learning more about their family history, experiencing placements that discourage them from staying connected to their cultures, and the influence of coworkers, supportive adults, and peers. Participants frequently attributed their decision to change how they racially/ethnically identify to a desire for safety of expression. Once safety was obtained, pride was often achieved with additional opportunities to positively perform this new racial/ethnic identity.

Conclusion and Implications: The current study highlights ways in racial/ethnic identity formation is an ongoing process that may be hindered or supported by the child welfare system and other influences such as family, friends, and the media. Further the current study provides important insight into practice and policy shifts that may be needed to better connect young people with the knowledge and resources needed to develop their racial/ethnic identity. Beyond the study findings, we highlight the gradual process of building research skills with the youth research advisors and local recruitment champions. Our efforts to be thoughtful and intentional in our co-design approach extended the timeline of the study but were an important investment in engaging the youth on the project.