Parenting Strategies among Youth Aging out of Foster Care
Grant
Overview
abstract
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The rate of pregnancy and early child-rearing among youth aging out of foster care in the U.S. is up to three times higher than for their non-foster-care-youth peers. In addition to early parenting, aging-out youth also experience many challenges transitioning from foster care into adulthood ? including substantial economic and housing insecurity, low educational attainment, unemployment, substance abuse, and mental health concerns. Parenting may be further complicated by experiences of trauma and maltreatment and a lack of positive parenting role models. 10-13As a result, a high proportion of children born to aging-out parents (22-40%) are involved in investigations of intergenerational child maltreatment and child welfare involvement. However, little is known about the type and frequency of parenting strategies among these parents, or whether they have adequate knowledge about the impacts of their parenting strategies on their children?s development. Such evidence would allow the implementation of sensible interventions to address their particular needs. However, barriers exist for aging-out parents to engage in parenting programs.Thus, it is essential to conduct in-depth investigations to explore aging-out parents? perspectives about parenting strategies, which will provide valuable insights for community-based intervention strategies.
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