JanaLeyrerSarahSheffield

OperationalizingSuccess:

AnAnalysisofRiskandProtectiveFactorsofTransition-AgeYouthinResidentialFosterCareat

HillsboroughCountyChildren’sServices

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Projectandpresentationmadepossiblethroughacollaborationbetween:• UniversityofSouthFloridaInstituteforTranslationalResearchin

AdolescentBehavioralHealth• UniversityofSouthFlorida,CollegeofPublicHealth• UniversityofSouthFlorida,CollegeofBehavioral&CommunitySciences• HillsboroughCountyDepartmentofChildren’sServices

AGENDA

• BackgroundandSignificance• PurposeofEvaluation• Methods• SurveyResults• InterviewResults• Findings• ImplicationsforServiceDelivery

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Programs

-Outpatient

-CINS/FINS

-RGC

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE

ResidentialGroupCareyouth– Transition-age(16-17)

Literatureontransition-agefosteryouth– Pooroutcomes– Interdependencevsindependence– Heterogenous– Developmentalconsiderations– Ecologicalconsiderations

Cultivatingprotectivefactorsinresidentialfostercareprogramscanhelpimproveyouthoutcomes

PURPOSE OF EVALUATION

ExpectedResults

Toidentifyimportantyetunmeasuredprotectivetreatmentpractices

Developprogramming

Attractprogramfunding

Toexploreresidentialfostercareyouthandstaffperceptionsofsuccess

AGENDA

• BackgroundandSignificance• PurposeofEvaluation• Methods

• SurveyResults• InterviewResults• Findings• ImplicationsforServiceDelivery

METHODS

Recruitment– Staffemployed>6months– Youthincare>6months

DataCollection– Nov2016– Feb2017– Surveyandsemi-structuredinterview

Analysis– Recodedinterviewstranscribed– Aprioricodingbasedonyouth.govlist

METHODS – SAMPLE

Children’sServices

20

Staff11

Administration2

DirectCare9

Clinical4

Operations3

Maintenance1

Dining1

Youth9

Pre-TAY3

TAY3

Emancipated3

Remote2

Local1

RGCYouth=15Staff≈90Ratio=1:6

METHODS – INTERVIEW

Staffandyouthinterviewquestions– Definitionsofsuccess– Supportintransitiontoadulthood– “TherapeuticCommunity”– Protectivefactorsfostered– Meaningfulanecdote

AGENDA

• BackgroundandSignificance• PurposeofEvaluation• Methods• SurveyResults

• InterviewResults• Findings• ImplicationsforServiceDelivery

SURVEY RESULTS

MostYouthEndorsedItems

• Clearbehavioralexpectations

• Highoutcomeexpectations

• Highacademicexpectations

• Connectionstomentors

• Supportiverelationships

MostStaffEndorsedItems

• Physicalhealthcare

• Positiveorganizationalclimate

• Highacademicexpectations

• Organizationalstability

• Connectionstoactivities

• Self-esteemdevelopment

SURVEY RESULTS

LargestRelativeDifferences

– Clearbehavioralexpectations(72.5%)

– Supportbeforeleaving(58.5%)

– Highoutcomeexpectations(45.5%)

– Preparedforindependentliving(44%)

Youthreportmoreprotectivefactordevelopmentthanstaff;

Staffisconcernedaboutpreparingyouthforagingout

AGENDA

• BackgroundandSignificance• PurposeofEvaluation• Methods• SurveyResults• InterviewResults

• Findings• ImplicationsforServiceDelivery

RISK FACTORS IDENTIFIED

INTERVIEW RESULTS

Describesuccessfulemancipatedyouth.Staff

• …understandtheroleofbeingagoodcitizen.• …contribution tothecommunity.• …fundamentals ofadulthood…• …beingplugged intothecommunity…

Youth

• Achievingyourgoals.• Somethingthatsomebodycanlookupto.• …havingtheabilitytonotquitbuttokeepgoingforward.• Alotofmoney.

INTERVIEW RESULTS

What hasbeenmosthelpful?Staff

• Thestructure.Thestability…• …thatconsistency.• …stablerelationship withanotheradult…• …supports…follow-up withthem…• …continued support…

Youth

• …theone-on-one therapy[and]interactionIgotfromeverybody…• Thestaff…they’realwaystherewhenyouneedthem.• …givingmelike,knowledge andexperiences…theytellyouhowitis…• …giventhatopportunitytospeak.

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

IndividualDomain FamilyDomain CommunityDomain

PhysicalDevelopment

IntellectualDevelopment

Self-Esteem

Self-RegulationofEmotions

Coping&Problem-solvingskills

Engagementin2+activities

Supportive

relationshipswith:

Family

Friends

Staff

Interest/SkillDevelopmentbymentor

EngagementwithSchool&Community

PositiveNorms

ClearbehavioralExpectations

Physical&Psychologicalsafety

AdaptedfromO’Connell,M.E.,Boat,T.,&Warner,K.E..(2009).Preventingmental,emotional,andbehavioraldisordersamongyoungpeople:Progressandpossibilities.Washington,DC:TheNationalAcademiesPress;andU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(2009).Riskandprotectivefactorsformental,emotional,andbehavioraldisordersacrossthelifecycle.Retrievedfromhttp://dhss.alaska.gov/dbh/Documents/Prevention/programs/spfsig/pdfs/IOM_Matrix_8%205x11_FINAL.pdf

RESULTS – INDIVIDUAL DOMAIN

Self-Esteem

Development

• Self-Investment• Independence• Decision-Making

“Theyhavetoknowthattheycandoit…Theyhavetosee thesuccess.”

RESULTS – INDIVIDUAL DOMAIN

Copingand

Problem-SolvingSkills• TherapyGroups• ModelingProsocialSkills• Communication• ConflictResolution• AskingforHelp

“Wemodelgoodcommunication…Wemodelitwitheachother.Wemodelitwiththem,andwhatweseeisdeficitsinthekids.Weuse

thatasamomenttoteach.”

RESULTS – FAMILY DOMAIN

SupportiveRelationships

withFamily

• Treatment• Events• Reunification• Sign-outs

“Alotofthetimes,we’reaprogramthatbelievesthatwewantourkidstohaveaconnectionwiththeirfamilies;ifit’ssafe,wedoreachout.”

RESULTS – FAMILY DOMAIN

SupportiveRelationships

withStaff

• Trust• Rolemodel• Family• Resource

“Yeah,ittooksixweekstogetthroughmyheadbecauseIwouldrunawaylikeeveryweekend…shewouldyellatmeandshewouldn’tgiveuponme…you

couldfeelthemotherinstinctcomeout...”

RESULTS – COMMUNITY DOMAIN

PersonalInterestor

SkillDevelopment

byMentor

• LifeSkillsTraining• CommunityExperiences• EmploymentCertifications

“Ithinkwe’regreatathelpingtheyouthfindtheirgifts,andthenmeetingthemwherethey’reatandthen– Idon’twanttosay

glorifyingthosegifts,buthonoringthosegifts.”

RESULTS – COMMUNITY DOMAIN

Physicaland

PsychologicalSafety

• SafetyPlan• Round-The-ClockStaff• Referrals• SafetyInfrastructure

“Inorderforustobeabletoevenstarttohelpouryouth,wehavetoensurethattheyfeelsafe.”

AGENDA

• BackgroundandSignificance• PurposeofEvaluation• Methods• SurveyResults• InterviewResults• Findings

• ImplicationsforServiceDelivery

FINDINGS

Importantyetunmeasuredprotectivetreatmentpracticesare:

1.Establishmentofsafety– Nightshiftprotocols

2.Encouragementofself-exploration– SummerSkillsCamp

3.Facilitationofmentorshipopportunities– Unstructuredtime,volunteering

4.Immersioninthecommunity– YMCA,bustransit

5.Careerandeducationpreparation– Collegevisits,applications

LIMITATIONS

– Smallsamplesize

– Surveyandinterviewinstrumentsmaynothaveadequatelycapturedallprotectivefactordomains

– Variableinterestfromstaffandchildrentoshareexperiences

AGENDA

• BackgroundandSignificance• PurposeofEvaluation• Methods• SurveyResults• InterviewResults• Findings• ImplicationsforServiceDelivery

IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY

• CBPRandYouth-AdultPartnership

• InformstandardizedRGCcurriculumforservicedelivery

• Futureresearchonoutcomeevaluationaftertransition

• Informchildwelfarepolicy

• Improveoutcomesforvulnerableyouth