Effects of Foster System on Behavioral Health and Inventions

Abstract

By Amanda Ward, Social Work

Advisor: Anjanette Wells

Presentation ID: 49

Abstract: The correlation between foster youth and behavioral health can be identified through interventions that help negative behaviors in foster youth. A review of research regarding samples of individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness notes rates of trauma exposure ranging from 49 to 100% (Stinson et al., 2016). These mental illnesses can have negative outcomes: alcohol and drug use, homelessness, personality disorder, suicidality and self-harm, sexual risk behaviors, and lesser quality of life. It is found that as compared with youth in biological care, youth in foster care placements were 2.7 times more likely to show physical aggression, verbal aggression, negative language, and commit crimes (Washington, 2018). By using the database of the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky, Data from the individual's past will show the trauma the individual has endured in relation to their behaviors through a content analysis. I will analyze the data of past history of biological family, foster homes, abuse, and neglect, comparing it to the number of incidents the child has in the residential program. Then, looking at the incident occurrences numbers relating to how far in the program that they are. The interventions that The Children's Home uses includes individual therapy, group therapy, the sanctuary model, trauma based approach and day treatment. Supporting the hypothesis, an association between the foster youth and behavioral concerns due to trauma was found and interventions can improve their behavioral health.