Title
Psychological Empowerment and the Pursuit of Social Change: Outcomes of Foster Youth Engagement
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-26-2016
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Public Child Welfare
Abstract
Youth aging out of foster care are assumed to embody a disempowered group, for whom civic engagement opportunities are rare. Utilizing a targeted initiative, this study explores individual- and community-level outcomes derived from foster youth civic engagement. Data were collected via: (a) interview and survey research with foster youth advisory board leaders; (b) interview and survey research with civic youth workers; and, (c) non-participant observation of five foster youth advisory board meetings. Directed content analysis revealed three emergent themes, which transcended the data inductively (Opportunity through Access; Positive Conceptions of New Jersey's Department of Children and Families; and, Participatory Competence). These themes support and extend our current understanding of empowering outcomes for this population. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.
DOI
10.1080/15548732.2016.1140698
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Forenza, Bradley, "Psychological Empowerment and the Pursuit of Social Change: Outcomes of Foster Youth Engagement" (2016). Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 89.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/social-work-and-child-advocacy-facpubs/89
Published Citation
Forenza, B. (2016). Psychological empowerment and the pursuit of social change: Outcomes of foster youth engagement. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 10(3), 274-290.