Suchergebnisse

Recognition of the developmental importance of sibling relationships has resulted in the proliferation of programs and services for siblings in out-of-home care. Empirical support is limited to a small number of these programs, however; and the mechanisms through which sibling-focused programs work to promote youth outcomes remains largely unexplored. To address this gap in research, the current study examined associations from counselor ratings of program implementation to youth-reported outcomes at Camp To Belong, a manualized camp-based reunification program for siblings separated by out-of-home care. Paper and pencil surveys were administered to 655 youth and 236 counselors at 11 camps operating in the U.S.A. during one camp season. Youth completed pre-test post-test measures of individual resilience, sibling support, sibling conflict, and post-test measures of belonging. Counselors completed post-test measures rating the enabling environment of the camp setting, the activities and events offered at camp, counselor satisfaction with program implementation, and critical events counselors observed at camp. A series of generalized linear models examined associations from the four dimensions of program implementation to each of the four youth-reported outcomes. Significant associations were observed from the program implementation domains to youth belonging and resilience, but not to sibling conflict or sibling support. Associations were observed in both expected and unexpected directions, illuminating the complexity of ways in which sibling-focused programs may affect the well-being of youth in out-of-home care. Insights and recommendations to inform future research and practice with siblings in out-of-home care are provided.

AbstractThe current study utilized survey data to determine if respondent characteristics and inter‐rater agreement on measures of important relationships were associated with resilience among child welfare‐involved youth. Youth and key adults (e.g., caregivers or caseworkers) each completed a multidimensional survey of youth well‐being. Both responded to measures of sibling and peer relationships; youth also completed a brief resilience measure. Inter‐rater agreement for sibling and peer relationship constructs were established through independent samples t‐test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Cronbach's kappa and double‐entry intraclass correlation coefficient. Linear regression models then examined associations of respondent and dyad characteristics to inter‐rater disagreement, and inter‐rater disagreement to youth reported resilience. Post hoc analyses probed interactions for respondent characteristics and inter‐rater disagreement to youth resilience. Results indicate key adults overestimated the quality of youth's sibling relationships, and inter‐rater disagreement was highest when the youth was older and the adult was a caregiver. Sibling rater disagreement was associated with higher youth reported resilience. For peer relationships, significant inter‐rater disagreement was not observed. Higher relative disagreement, however, was associated with lower youth resilience. Findings suggest levels of inter‐rater agreement may be an important consideration when assessing the well‐being of youth in out‐of‐home care.

AbstractEarly engagement with health care, mental health care, and social services can promote the well‐being of children and families. How practitioners can best support family engagement with these services however remains largely unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, data from a voluntary 12‐week telephone and web‐mediated family navigation preventive intervention called Navigate Your Way were subject to mixed‐methods analysis. Twenty‐nine caregivers and five family navigators contributed data to the study. Thematic analysis of weekly navigator check‐ins, participant closing interviews, navigator discharge notes, and lab meeting notes was conducted and followed by quantitative analysis of navigator effort across project activities. Results were then mixed to illuminate the essential conditions for supporting family connection to health care, mental health care, and social services. Qualitative analysis identified themes related to empathic engagement and person‐centred navigation as central to connecting families to needed services. Quantitative analysis of navigator effort identified participant outreach, weekly check‐ins, service identification, and ongoing supervision as essential navigation activities. Together, providing an environment that is supportive, consistent, flexible, person‐centred and tailored to families' specific needs are important for connecting to health and social care.