Foster Youth Discharge Outcomes: The Association Between Pre-Placement Maltreatment and Daily Living Activities

Abstract

By Kaitlin Scott, Social Work

Advisor: Anjanette Wells

Presentation ID: AM_A19

Abstract: There is a wide scope of socioeconomic factors that result in a child being removed from their home (Children's Bureau, 2017). Childhood adversities can cause children to lack the tools necessary to function appropriately in day-to-day life, and the impact can be seen throughout individuals' entire life (Okpych, 2015; Mares & Kroner, 2011; Brusakas, 2008). Although independent living services are available to youth aging out of care, for a variety of reasons, many of these services do not yield constructive outcomes. Existing research rarely evaluates specific form(s) of pre-placement maltreatment (PPM) in relation daily living activity (DLA) functioning for youth discharged from care. This quantitative study concentrates on three forms of PPM: neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. The research focuses on a sample of youth who have been discharged from foster care in 2018. This study utilizes agency records from the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) to collect relevant data and information. The research study aims to explore the impact of specific form(s) of PPM in relation to Daily Living Activities Assessment (DLA-20) scores. There are a few limitations to the study, including: time, access, and geographical area size.