Co-Creation of a Comprehensive Support Pathway for the Learning and Mental Health Needs of Youth in Care

Chelsey Urquhart

Impact

  • The project provided a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by youth transitioning out of foster care, particularly in education and employment and provided recommendation for systemic improvements to meet the needs of these youth.

  • Insights from the project influenced policies and practices within the foster care system, promoting more coordinated and individualized support approaches.

  • By involving a youth advisor with lived experience, the project empowered youth voices in shaping the research and its outcomes. It also fostered stronger collaboration among various stakeholders, including caseworkers, educators and mental health professionals, to provide comprehensive support for youth in care.

  • Ontario

  • Studentship

  • Western University

  • Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex

  • Mitacs

  • 2020-2021

  • Children and Youth Mental Health

  • Youth (aged 13-18)

About the Project

The project aimed to develop and implement a support pathway for youth transitioning out of the foster care system into early adulthood. The researcher worked directly with transition-aged youth and caseworkers to understand the challenges faced by these youth during this critical period, focusing on education, employment and mental well-being outcomes for these young individuals.

Methodology

The project completed a detailed literature review, examining key themes such as demographic information, support services, policies and procedures for youth in foster care in comparison to the Joint Protocol for Student Achievement (JPSA), used in Ontario schools for children and youth in government care. This was followed by the organization of focus groups and interviews with youth in care and caseworkers to understand their experiences and challenges. Finally, the insights gathered were compiled into reports that highlighted the main findings and suggest better ways to support youth in their transition to adulthood.

Findings

  • The literature review identified three key themes with gaps: service coordination, preventive measures and individualized support.

  • Through focus groups and interviews, it was discovered that many youth felt that their education and mental health needs were not adequately supported. Caseworkers noted that the transition process to adulthood was challenging due to insufficient collaborative support and barriers to achieving education and employment goals.

  • Overall recommendation were enhancing coordination among services, implementing preventive measures, and providing tailored support to improve outcomes for youth transitioning out of care.

Resources Created

  • Comprehensive guides for conducting focus groups and interviews with youth in care and caseworkers, covering topics such as support, education, mental health and transition processes.

  • A detailed job description for a youth advisor role within the community organization, outlining key responsibilities and expectations to ensure meaningful youth participation in the research.

  • 2 summary reports outlining the needs of youth in care, common themes and insights from youth and caseworkers, and recommendations for better support pathways to help youth achieve their academic, employment, and well-being goals.

  • Materials to train the youth advisor on confidentiality and the project's aims, ensuring they are well-prepared to contribute effectively.