Resiliency factors contributing to former foster youth successfully transitioning from the child welfare system

Project (M.S.W., Social Work) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2011.This exploratory study examined resiliency in foster youth exiting the child welfare system. Participants included 33 emancipated foster youth who completed an online survey using the Resiliency 14 Scale and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. Research findings indicated that the majority of emancipated foster youth demonstrated moderately high to high levels of resilience. Males had statistically significant higher resiliency scores than females, and African Americans had higher social support scores than other races/ethnicities although the difference only approached statistical significance. Greater social support was found to significantly correlate with higher resiliency scores. The researcher???s hypothesis that former foster youth who participated in an independent living program (ILP) would demonstrate higher resiliency and greater social support than those who did not was not supported. However, those who participated in an ILP did have higher social support and the relationship between participation in an ILP and resiliency approached statistical significance. \ud The research findings reflect the need for increased attention to examining various resiliency factors associated with emancipated foster youths??? successful transition from the child welfare system. It is important to develop realistic and successful independent living programs for these youth. In addition, other approaches need to be examined and developed to help with the many challenges that emancipated foster youth face.Social Wor