Displaying 1 - 10 of 19
Highlights
- Children living with foster families experienced significantly greater trauma (across domains; physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence).
- A strong, positive relationship was found between the number of trauma types experienced and foster placement, with foster children nearly seven times more likely to experience four types of trauma, compared to non-foster children.
- Children living with foster families also experienced significantly greater positive symptoms, risky or problematic sexual behaviour, difficulty…
Background
The Youth Research Academy (YRA) is a group of young people aged 16 to 24 with experience of the government care system. They are trained to carry out research projects that can help benefit youth in and from care throughout BC. This cohort has been meeting online twice a week since June 2021, and includes two peer mentors who took part in previous YRA cohorts. For this report, the group planned what analyses to carry out on the topic of mental health among youth with care experience. The analyses were based on questions from the 2018 BC Adolescent Health Survey (BC AHS…
Externalizing behavior problems are a salient issue in the context of child protection services, where associations with placement stability and caregiving behavior have been documented. Moreover, although research on the association between contact with biological parents and foster child externalizing behavior problems is scarce and has yielded mixed results, several studies have shown links between the two variables. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of face-to-face contact with biological parents and externalized behaviors, while taking into account placement…
Abstract
Youth and young adults who previously experienced foster care are prone to negative life events, such as physical injuries, and adverse childhood experiences (ACE), such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to identify the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), ACE, and poor sustained attention and the associations of these events in this group of vulnerable persons. Participants completed standardized questionnaires on the prevalence of self-reported TBI (TBI) and ACE and performed the Sustained Attention to…
Abstract
Background:
A review of the scientific literature showed few valid tools for assessing reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED), two diagnostic entities traditionally grouped under “attachment disorders.” The Early TRAuma-related Disorders Questionnaire (ETRADQ), a caregiver report, was developed to assess attachment disorders in school-age children based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth edition criteria. This study sought to validate this instrument.…
Abstract
Background
Several challenges exist when making a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and identifying co-morbid psychiatric illness, particularly for children and youth accessing child welfare services. Here, we describe an integrated three-phase approach to the identification of FASD and psychiatric comorbidity for children and youth in care, consisting of: (1) completion of a standardized neurobehavioral screening tool by a child protection worker (CPW); (2) assessment by a pediatrician, including facial measurements and; (3) integration of findings in a…
Abstract
Women with problematic substance use are frequently referred to interventions to promote positive parenting. Parenting interventions that attend to the unique risks faced by this population may enhance engagement and outcomes. While reviews of extant parenting interventions in the research literature have been undertaken, no studies have examined parenting interventions being implemented in community practice and the extent to which these are informed by current research. We systematically compared parenting interventions offered in 12 maternal substance use treatment programs in…
Abstract
Objectives
Few studies have examined predictors of positive development among children currently in foster care. We examined associations between perceived support from adults in three developmental contexts (home, school and neighbourhood) and mental well-being (life satisfaction, self-concept, optimism) among grade four children living with foster parents in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada.
Methods
The sample was comprised of children who completed the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) in B.C. schools between 2011 and 2016 and who reported living with a foster…
Objective
There is a well-documented link between child maltreatment and poor health across the lifespan. This provides a strong case for ongoing research with youth involved in the child welfare system to reduce negative outcomes and support resilience while being inclusive of youth voices. However, detailed inquiries about maltreatment history and health consequences may cause re-experiencing of events and psychological distress for study participants. Data that accounts for different contexts, such as severity of maltreatment history and current trauma symptomatology, have been limited…
Abstract
The prevalence and impact of trauma exposure among young people in the child welfare system in Canada warrants holistic intervention as a means of trauma recovery for this vulnerable population. A trauma-informed approach to practice is outlined through consideration of traditional trauma treatments and mind-body interventions that serve as complementary methods of therapy. Despite limited research on the effectiveness of mind-body interventions with children and adolescents in out-of-home care in Canada, a review of available literature on mindfulness, arts-based methods, and…