Storer Heather L, Barkan Susan E, Sherman Emma L, Haggerty Kevin P, Mattos Leah M
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Box 354900 Seattle, WA, USA.
Partners for Our Children, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Box 359476, Seattle, WA, USA.
Child Youth Serv Rev. 2012 Sep 1;34(9). doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.05.017.
The high needs of youth involved in the child welfare system and the poor long-term outcomes of former foster youth represent a significant systemic challenge. As part of a process to adapt an evidence-based parenting program for a child welfare population, we conducted a series of focus groups with child welfare staff, foster caregivers, and young adults who were involved in the foster system as teens. From these focus groups we learned that, although there is a need for evidence-based parenting programs for families involved in the child welfare setting, one of the significant barriers to program implementation is the lack of meaningful connection between caregivers and youth in their care. We will provide an in-depth discussion on the proposed adaptations to make Staying Connected more relevant for foster families, including the addition of skills training to help overcome some of the barriers to connection. Staying Connected holds the promise of cultivating more supportive home environments that have the capacity to nurture youths' healthy development, including the avoidance of high-risk behaviors.
儿童福利系统中青少年的高需求以及前寄养青少年长期不佳的结果构成了一项重大的系统性挑战。作为为儿童福利人群改编一项循证育儿项目过程的一部分，我们与儿童福利工作人员、寄养照料者以及青少年时期参与寄养系统的年轻人进行了一系列焦点小组访谈。从这些焦点小组访谈中我们了解到，尽管参与儿童福利事务的家庭需要循证育儿项目，但项目实施的一个重大障碍是照料者与他们所照料的青少年之间缺乏有意义的联系。我们将深入讨论为使“保持联系”项目对寄养家庭更具相关性而提议的改编内容，包括增加技能培训以帮助克服一些联系障碍。“保持联系”项目有望营造更具支持性的家庭环境，这些环境有能力促进青少年的健康发展，包括避免高风险行为。
