Challenges of Emerging Adulthood among Youth out of Foster Care

Youth out of foster care can face various problems related to finding a housing, unemployment, low educational attainmentor lack of interpersonal relationships. The aim of the research was to studythe problems of youth out of foster carein Georgia.Within the qualitative studysemi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The findings indicated that youth out of foster carefelt unprepared for life and face some financial, social and psychological challenges which make the transition to adulthood more problematic. They have a problem of unstable housing, employment and community integration.In this criticalperiod of transition, social workers are responsible for supporting adolescence. The study identified very low involvement of the social worker during preparation to age out of foster care. Social workers must continue to work with young people, help thembuild relationships and positive support network. It's recommended to expandfoster care services to the youthwith the aimsof growinglearning and accommodationstability, and employment services.Policy makers should consider housing opportunities for youth out of foster care. Youngsters out of foster carerequire protective preparation and planning, which will help adolescents make this transitioninto adulthood more flexible.

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari Dyregrov

This article explores the reasons why parts of the social support to survivors of traumatic deaths fail. The data is based on in-depth interviews with 69 parents who lost their offspring due to suicide, SIDS, or accident between August 1, 1997 and December 31, 1998. Despite considerable positive support from their social nework, the majority of the survivors also experienced some unhelpful encounters or lack of anticipated support. Network members often find it difficult to communicate support in a way that is helpful, and this is termed “social ineptitude.” This ineptitude on the part of networks is explained by the lack of norms to guide this uncommon type of social encounter. The bereaved parents claim that “openness” and frankness about their situation is their best empowering strategy to meet this “social ineptitude.” These concepts, as they are elaborated in survivors' accounts are discussed within a communicational and interactional perspective. A micro-sociological model of communication provides the frame of reference for the discussion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Annie Pullen Sansfaçon ◽  
Marion Brown

This article presents the results and theorization of a 4-year Grounded Theory project that sought to understand the processes and dynamics involved in the professional adaptation of internationally educated social workers now practicing in Canada. In-depth interviews with 66 participants, who undertook social work education outside of Canada and have subsequently settled to practice in the country, were conducted. Results highlight that the social work educational background of the professionals not only offers key conceptual, theoretical, and analytical foundations needed to adapt knowledge and skills to practice abroad, but also provides tools to navigate and negotiate professional adaptation processes as a whole. We conclude that ultimately, social workers may adapt well to their new work contexts because of the transferability of social work skills, knowledge, and values to new practice settings, thus facilitating interventions with services users and also their own process of professional adaptation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 36-47
Author(s):  
Mariusz Gajewski

Youth and Contemporary Controversial Cults: Selected Issues The paper addresses a very important issue of controversial cults and their impact on youth. The first part describes and analyzes youth as an crucial stage in human development, the social situation in which young people grow up. There are also analyzed the most important needs of young people. The next part of the article presents the basic definitions of sects and discusses the manner of their controversial impact on society and youth. Then, the reasons for the emergence of sects are explained, as well as variables conducive to their possible attractiveness. The issue of susceptibility of children and youth to sects is also explained. The final part focuses on the effects of assistance offered to young people. It is pointed out that it is necessary to organize and conduct preventive and therapeutic interactions in the context of the work of educators, social workers and psychologists.


Author(s):  
Ruth Bridgstock ◽  
Shane Dawson ◽  
Greg Hearn

In this chapter, social relationship patterns associated with outstanding innovation are described and explored. In doing so, the chapter draws upon the findings of 16 in-depth interviews with award-winning Australian innovators from science & technology and the creative industries. The interviews covered topics relating to various influences on individual innovation capacity and career development. For all of the participants, innovation was a highly social process. Although each had been recognised individually for their innovative success, none worked in isolation. The ability to generate innovative outcomes was grounded in certain types of interaction and collaboration. The chapter outlines the distinctive features of the social relationships which seem to be important to innovation, and ask which ‘social network capabilities’ might underlie the ability to create an optimal pattern of interpersonal relationships. The implications of these findings for universities play a key role in the development of nascent innovators.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1107-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hani Nouman ◽  
Lia Levin ◽  
Einat Lavee

Abstract Although social workers’ engagement in policy-shaping processes to advance social justice reflects this obligation of the social work profession, many social workers avoid implementing policy practice (PP). Previous studies have identified several barriers limiting social workers’ use of this practice. However, how such barriers can be overcome remains under-studied. In this study, we address this lacuna by examining the role of social workers vis-à-vis their engagement in PP, through the theoretical framework of social psychology of organizations, and therein, through ideas concerning open systems and the formation of roles and praxes in organizations. Drawing on twenty-eight in-depth interviews and three focus groups, we demonstrate how social workers underwent a coping and transformation process that increased their engagement in PP. In certain situations, it was the expectations of colleagues and the challenges posed by them that impelled social workers to re-examine their approach to such engagement and enhance it. We show how social workers can overcome barriers and facilitate their involvement in the policy arena, as well as highlight policy-makers’ role in shaping social workers’ modes of operation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Hassan Arab

The demand for Evidence-Based Practice "EBP" has been growing for a long-term and yet, there isn't a reply to this growth. Social Workers continue to rely on personal perspective, common sense, tradition when working with their clients in the foster care field as well as their personal beliefs in their assessment and intervention plans. Throughout a journey around the GCC countries to compare the adoption systems, and the social worker's work perspective in all the assessment stages, and tracing to intervention plans or treatment methods; it was noted that social workers still consume and revive an environment free of any evidence-based practices. In order to patch this glitch a sample of a practice sheet that consists of theoretical framework can be used as a temporary solution in order to provide an evidence-based practices in the foster care field.


2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732092882
Author(s):  
Doris Chateauneuf ◽  
Marie-Andrée Poirier ◽  
Geneviève Pagé

Summary Placement in a foster family by child welfare services is a crucial decision in the trajectory of a child. Nevertheless, the strategies and procedures underlying the decision to remove a child from his/her family for placement in foster care remain little studied. Based on 39 semi-directed individual interviews with social workers from child welfare services, the current study aims at highlighting how social workers come to the decision to remove a child from parental care, and how they choose a foster family. Findings The thematic analysis of the qualitative data collected reveals that four main components were raised by social workers to explain how they make their decisions regarding placement and what are the considerations associated with this process: (1) Professional consensus and collaboration, (2) Clinical and legal guidelines, (3) Risk assessment and clinical judgment, and (4) Personality and values of the social worker. The results of this study show that decisions surrounding the removal of a child from his/her family and the choice of a foster family are the result of multiples factors and strategies involving the social worker and other collaborating professionals, as well as their legal and administrative context. Application The findings suggest that additional efforts could be made in child protection organizations and agencies in order to develop supportive measures that take into account the collective and interactional aspect of the decision-making process regarding placement in foster care.


Author(s):  
Tea Torbenfeldt Bengtsson ◽  
Kirstine Karmsteen

Abstract Despite the fact that most children growing up in family foster care remain in contact with their birth parents, the experiences of birth parents have been largely neglected. This article draws on twenty-two in-depth interviews with birth parents to examine their experiences of cooperating with social workers and foster carers. Five patterns of cooperation are empirically identified in the parents’ narratives: (i) constructive cooperation; (ii) ambivalent cooperation; (iii) improved cooperation; (iv) diminishing cooperation and (v) lack of cooperation. While there are key differences in the characteristics of each pattern, there is one central similarity: all the parents seek recognition of their parenthood, especially their love for their child. Thus, actively recognising the role of parental love in parents’ motivation for cooperation can enable social workers to secure better cooperation with birth parents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Dziro

The desire to understand young adults’ transition into adulthood from informal kinship-based foster care has been growing. This article examines the challenges encountered by, and the opportunities available to, young adults as they transition from informal kinship-based foster care to independent living in the Bikita District of Zimbabwe. In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 young people who had left care and key informants. Data were analyzed using a thematic framework. Key findings included the young adults’ need for proper preparation in formal education, health, social welfare, and employment to ward off the challenges they face before they leave informal kinship-based foster care. The opportunities available to the young adults included cultural identity, social capital, and training in independent life skills within their kinship group. Recommendations are made for better preparation and support to young people transitioning out of informal kinship-based care in Zimbabwe.


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