Author : Mitchell C. Sandy
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 228 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (881 download)
Book Synopsis A Phenomenological Study of Foster Care Emancipation by : Mitchell C. Sandy
Download or read book A Phenomenological Study of Foster Care Emancipation written by Mitchell C. Sandy and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many youth, prior to being emancipated from the child care system, are referred to Transitional and Independent Living Services. These youth experience a variety of hardships after emancipation, however, hardships such as unemployment, housing difficulties, poor health care, ongoing struggles with mental illness, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and incarceration. The purpose of Independent Living Services is to buffer youth against such outcomes by empowering them to become self-sufficient; something that is accomplished through the provision of employment and educational support, housing services, and Life Skills Training. Research suggests that youth serviced in Transitional and Independent Living Services are indeed better prepared after emancipation than youth who do not receive these services. Assessing such youth progress, however, has traditionally relied on pilot or retrospective studies which, although comprehensive, often lack a subjective understanding of this phenomenon. This phenomenological study examined the improved outcomes experienced by emancipated youth after being serviced in Independent Living Services by exploring the experiences of the program Directors responsible for the daily operations of Transitional and Independent Living Programming. Five experienced and knowledgeable Transitional and Independent Living Program Directors were specifically selected because of their subjective understanding of the outcomes and trends experienced by foster youth. The program Directors offered their experiences, via interviews, that were later analyzed by means of a content analysis to construct the meaning or themes relevant to their experiences of serving adolescents emancipating from care. A content analysis revealed four themes: gate keeping, self-sufficiency, program development, and aftercare. Results are presented in a manner that will help other field professionals understand the subjective challenges and experiences facing Transitional Independent Living Program Directors as well as provide insight into the role Independent Living Services have in youth outcomes.