Empowering Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

NCT04895670 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 33699
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Improving the health literacy of adolescents and increasing the success of transitions to adulthood from foster care are two defined Healthy People 2030 public health priorities. Skills to promote health literacy and independent living are often lacking in adolescents in foster care and young adults who have aged out of care. Frequent placement changes, no permanent home, lack of trust in adults and systems of care prevent the development of a strong support system for transitioning to adulthood from foster care, which can result in lack of access to personal health information, complicated identity documents, and disconnected child welfare, health care and community resources. These factors limit the ability to transition to adulthood successfully, drive disparities in health outcomes, and may explain lack of educational attainment and career development for young adults formerly in care. Successful transitions to independent living are unattainable unless barriers are addressed with a multidisciplinary, community-based approach. The Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence at Children's Health and the Krissi Holman Family Resource Library at Children's Health recognized the unique needs of adolescents in foster care and young adults formerly in care (AYAFC) as they transition to independent living. We developed a partnership with community agencies (Empowering Youth Taskforce) that support these youth in the areas of child welfare (TX Department of Family and Protective Services), education (UNT PuSH Program), career development and housing support (TRAC at City Square, Zoie's Place), legal support (SMU Dedman Law School), and others, to increase AYAFC health literacy, access to health care, and awareness and use of available community resources. Frequent placement changes and unstable housing make it difficult for AYAFC to keep their health information, identity records and personal documents together, which is critical for accessing health services, enrolling in health insurance, and maintaining wellness. Since many have access to a smart phone, using technology is one way to promote adolescent health and wellness. An app is a possible solution to address many of the barriers that impede successful transition to independent living. The goal of this project is to engage AYAFC and stakeholders who support these young people throughout North Texas to collaboratively design an app to support the transition from foster care to adulthood. This project will utilize a mixed methods approach to inform the transition process while addressing both individual and systems level barriers to increase the success of AYAFC's transition to independent living. This project builds upon work done by a multidisciplinary community task force led by the Principal Investigator, and the development of an adolescent transition process at the Rees-Jones Clinic. Community partners are fully engaged in the design of the intervention and will be involved in AYAFC and stakeholder recruitment, data analysis, and interpretation of the results.

Conditions

Health Behavior

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Needs assessment for app development

  Qualitatively assess by focus group needs and features for app to assist in management of health information and access of health information and community resources.

  24 months

• Impact of app use on Health Literacy

  Measured by pre and post health literacy assessment.

  12 months

• Impact of app use on Knowledge of Health Information and Community Resources

  Measured by pre and post knowledge assessment

  6 months

• App Acceptability

  Qualitative Data Collection by Focus Group regarding app usability and acceptability.

  6 months

• App Engagement

  Measured by number of app usages.

  6 months

• App Use

  Measured by time spent accessing data

  6 months

Interventions

Empowering Youth Aging out of Foster Care BEHAVIORAL

App that allows storage of health information, and access to reputable health information and community resources.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

At least 40% of adolescents in foster care have a chronic health problem or significant mental health diagnosis; many take medications daily. One third of adolescents in foster care do not have a permanent home prior to turning 18. They often have multiple placement changes, extended involvement in the child welfare system and substantial neglect, abuse and trauma histories. They may lack trust in adults, systems of care and ongoing support as they transition to adulthood. They also may lack access to their health information, identity documents and resources needed to successfully transition to adulthood. In 2019, over 1,100 children aged out of care in Texas. Almost 25% of children aging out of foster care had been in care before they were teenagers; many were in group homes or shelters and had multiple foster care placements. In Texas, youth who aged out of foster care are less likely to finish high school, go to college or be employed than youth not in care.

You may qualify if:

• Young Adults In extended care foster care or aged out of foster care
• English-speaking
• Ages 18-24
• Community stakeholders who are English-speaking adults (18-65) who support -Adolescents and Young Adults in Foster Care or aged out of care.
• (e.g. caregivers, medical, legal, and social service professionals

You may not qualify if:

• Age less than 18 years old
• never in foster care.
• No direct contact with Adolescents and Young Adults in Foster Care or aged out of care.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: lead
• Children's Health: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Childrens Health

Dallas, Texas, 75235, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Health Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2021
• First Posted: May 20, 2021
• Study Start: August 12, 2021
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2023
• Study Completion: June 30, 2023
• Last Updated: August 29, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)