They keep moving me : an examination of the effects of multiple placements on foster youth utilizing the theories of attachment and resilience

More than half a million youth in the U.S. are in out-of-home care each year, and they experience an average of three placements. Foster youth already face many disadvantages and multiple placements increase the risk. Through a review of the literature, this study compares and contrasts the applicability of the theories of attachment and resilience to the experience of foster youth with multiple placements. This study applies the theories of attachment and resilience to foster youth in two ways. First, this study explores how the theories help explain or predict the experience of multiple placements for foster youth. Second, this project seeks to provide future direction for study and practical application. Recommendations are made on developing policies to address the impact of multiple placements on youth, minimizing placements, and applying attachment and resilience theories