Young in Foster Care
The aim of this prospective study is to investigate the well-being and development of foster children from childhood to adolescence.
Main content
The primary objective of this project is to examine the developmental trajectories of adolescents in foster care five years after their initial assessment. The investigation encompasses:
- Identifying the factors influencing the stability and changes in mental health from childhood to adolescence.
- Determining the factors leading to positive development and overall quality of life among youth in foster care.
- Evaluating the types of services provided to both the youth and the foster families, as well as the experiences and perceived outcomes of these services.
- Assessing whether the assistance is perceived as beneficial and tailored to the youths needs.
The knowledge acquired from this study will hold significance for the development of support services following foster care placements. It is essential to comprehensively assess the children's experiences of their lives to ensure that service provision is based on an understanding of the needs of foster children.
The study includes youth in foster care aged 11 to 17 years, residing in South and East Norway. Data collection was completed in April 2017, with over three hundred adolescents participating directly. Additionally, data from foster parents of 330 adolescents were collected.
The project has been reviewed and approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics West (REK West) and the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth, and Family Affairs.
Young in Foster Care project has resulted in two doctoral theses: