Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School
College for Community Health
Department/Program
Family Science and Human Development
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Brad van Eeden-Moorefield
Committee Member
Jason Williams
Committee Member
Beth Sapiro
Abstract
This study shows that systemic racism and low cultural responsiveness are deeply rooted in the child welfare system, helping to explain some disparities faced by young Black women (YBW) in foster care. Given the high rates of Black females in foster care and the disproportionately negative outcomes, understanding the unique experiences and challenges Black females may face as they age out of the foster care system is essential. This study utilizes a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative inquiry alongside Black Feminist Thought and Intersectional Frameworks to gather insights from Black female Social Workers about their perceptions, observations, and experiences in assisting YBW with their transition into adulthood from foster care, specifically in ways that prepare them to navigate life as Black women in America. Thirteen Black female social workers (BFSW) were interviewed in the Northeast, working in various child welfare settings. The main themes that emerged across the interviews focus on the transition process reduced to the basics, challenges within the child welfare system for YBW and BFSW-gendered racism and adultification bias, the needs of YBW, and the contributions of individual caseworkers. The findings enhance the literature by deepening the understanding of real-life implications, raising awareness, centering the experiences, perspectives, and voices of Black female social workers, and guiding practice and program decision-making to address the unique needs of YBW (i.e., developing gendered racial identity, and collective coping and individual skill building to counter gendered racism and adultification bias) in culturally affirming ways as they prepare to transition into adulthood from foster care.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Hubbard, Tawanda L., "Through the Eyes of Black Female Social Workers: Understanding How Young Black Women Aging Out of Foster Care Are Prepared to Navigate as Black Women in America" (2025). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1570.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1570