Left Behind in Lockdown: A Scoping Review of COVID‐19's Impact on the Lives of Transition‐Age Foster Youth

Child & Family Social Work · 2026-03-11

ABSTRACT This scoping review asked: What is known about the scope and nature of research on the COVID‐19 pandemic and its effects on older youth with foster care experience in the United States, including the types of studies, samples and outcomes examined? Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and PRISMA‐ScR, we searched 11 databases and grey literature sources (October 2024 to January 2025). Eligible studies were United States based, published from 2020 onward and included primary data on foster youth or relevant professionals. Thirty‐two studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies were descriptive or cross‐sectional, reflecting early phases of the pandemic. Mapping of study characteristics showed variation in design, sample composition and focus. Still, descriptive findings consistently pointed to disruptions in employment, education, housing, mental health and social relationships. Subgroups—including youth of colour, LGBTQ youth and females—were disproportionately affected. Although largely descriptive, this evidence base reveals where systems most often failed foster youth during COVID‐19 and highlights domains most in need of reform. Findings suggest the value of expanding housing and educational supports, improving access to mental health care and embedding rapid‐response mechanisms for both crisis and non‐crisis times. By mapping what is known and naming what remains uncertain, this review provides a foundation for future research and policy action to ensure foster youth are not left behind.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Child Protective Services Reporting, Substantiation and Placement, With Comparison to Non-CPS Risks and Outcomes: 2005–2019

UNC Libraries · 2025-03-20

We used National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and Census data to examine Black-White and Hispanic-White disparities in reporting, substantiation, and out-of-home placement both descriptively from 2005-2019 and in multivariate models from 2007-2017. We also tracked contemporaneous social risk (e.g., child poverty) and child harm (e.g., infant mortality) disparities using non-child protective services (CPS) sources and compared them to CPS reporting rate disparities. Black-White CPS reporting disparities were lower than found in non-CPS risk and harm benchmarks. Consistent with the Hispanic paradox, Hispanic-White CPS reporting disparities were lower than risk disparities but similar to harm disparities. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of data from the past several years indicated that Black children were less likely to be substantiated or placed into out-of-home care following a report than White children. Hispanic children were slightly more likely to be substantiated or placed in out-of-home care than White children overall, but this difference disappeared in multivariate models. Available data provide no evidence that Black children were overreported relative to observed risks and harms reflected in non-CPS data. Reducing reporting rates among Black children will require addressing broader conditions associated with maltreatment.

Is Child Welfare Oppressive?

Journal of Teaching in Social Work · 2025-03-15 · 5 citations

From Me to We: Pathways Linking Perfectionism, Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Mental Health

2025-10-04

Objective: Perfectionism has been identified as a risk factor for poor mental health. This study based on Mindfulness Stress Buffering theory examined whether mindfulness, self-compassion, and other resilience factors mediate the relationship between perfectionism and mental health. Methods: Undergraduates at a public research university (n = 421, 66% White, 64% female) completed an online survey measuring maladaptive perfectionism, trait mindfulness, self-compassion, social connection, self-control, and emotion regulation. Results: Higher trait mindfulness and self-compassion correlated with lower perfectionism and psychological distress, and greater social connection, self-control, and well-being. Correlations were consistent between Honors and Non-Honors students. Only social connection (indirect effect: ꞵ = -.13, p < .001) mediated the relationship between perfectionism and well-being, whereas both social connection and self-control partly mediated the relationship between perfectionism and psychological distress (indirect effects: ꞵ = .09 and ꞵ = .06; p’s < .01). The multivariable path model explained 24% of the variance in well-being and 42% in distress. Conclusion: Social connection may be more important than mindfulness or self-compassion in buffering perfectionism's negative impact on mental health. Interventions aiming to enhance well-being and reduce distress among perfectionistic individuals may benefit from prioritizing social connectedness and belonging, rather than mindfulness or compassion in isolation.

Financial and psychosocial challenges reported by social work students: Findings from a cross-sectional online survey

Transformative Social Work · 2025-02-18

Although field education is social work’s signature pedagogy, few studies explore student perspectives surrounding the challenges and costs of field practicum (Aguilera et al., 2022). Available research indicates that many social work students experience role conflict and financial stress as they attempt to balance caregiving and employment responsibilities with coursework and field requirements (Hemy et al., 2016). While prior research found that part-time and non-traditional students are disproportionately likely to experience such challenges, the extant literature is limited to a handful of studies, with most of these focusing on social work education in Australia (Smith et al., 2021). To address this literature gap, the current study analyzes data from 408 current and former students who participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Administered by the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the survey asked respondents about the financial and psychosocial challenges they encountered while pursuing a social work degree. Respondents with any history of part-time enrollment, those in unpaid field practicums, gender nonconforming respondents, and respondents of color reported significantly more challenges than did their counterparts. Findings offer insights for professional accrediting bodies, universities, and field placement organizations seeking to understand and address the concerns of contemporary social work students.

Reintegration of street‐connected children in Kenya: Evaluation of Agape Children's Ministry's Family Strengthening Programme

Child & Family Social Work · 2024-02-15 · 3 citations

Abstract In Kenya, the number of street‐involved children continues to grow each decade, with most recent estimates as high as 250 000 to 300 000. Despite efforts by local government, nongovernmental organizations, and community‐based organizations to address this problem, most children who receive services end up returning to the streets. Since 2021, Agape Children's Ministry has provided time‐limited, crisis‐oriented services to families recently reintegrated through its Family Strengthening Programme (FSP). We conducted an exploratory programme evaluation of Agape's FSP to ascertain whether it is achieving the intended outcomes. Thirty families ( n = 30 children; n = 38 caregivers) were enrolled in the FSP during the study window and participated in the evaluation. Family functioning and child well‐being increased to a statistically significant and large extent from before to after the intervention. All but two children remained reintegrated at the end of the study period. Results highlight the importance of using a holistic family‐based programme that reunites children with their healthiest possible family environment with a plan specifically tailored to their individual needs and unique family situations. Results also bring to the fore the need for broad governmental attention to basic needs of families as an important part of improving family functioning.

“The program encourages people not to have a heavy heart”: a qualitative study of a family strengthening program in Kenya

Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies · 2024-03-08 · 1 citations

There are millions of street-connected children worldwide, with thousands estimated in Kenya. Many child-serving organizations - including Agape Children’s Ministry (Agape) in western Kenya - provide rehabilitation and family reintegration services to remove children from the streets and reunite them with their families. This study aims to elucidate barriers and facilitators of Agape’s Family Strengthening Program (FSP) and elicit feedback. Twelve children and 12 caregivers who participated in the FSP, as well as 11 Agape staff, participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews for this study. Salient child/caregiver themes include: (1) spirituality/religion, (2) reflections on the FSP, (3) reflections on Agape, and (4) family functioning. Staff themes were similar. Results amplify the voices of the participants regarding provision of and participation in the FSP.

The stark implications of abolishing child welfare: An alternative path towards support and safety

Child & Family Social Work · 2024-01-21 · 15 citations

Abstract Scholars and advocates are at odds about how to achieve higher levels of child safety and permanency. Calls for change include the recent upEND focus on eradication of child welfare services to a radical refocusing of the present system towards prevention/early intervention. To clarify the implications of reform over abolition, we seek to portray a future in which the abolition of child welfare has occurred, in juxtaposition to maintaining four core elements of established child maltreatment programmes around the world: (1) receiving and responding to community signals about the risk to children; (2) assessment of need coupled with a proportionate response; (3) rights protections to ensure fairness when placement outside the family is required; and (4) procedures for accountability and quality improvement. For each of these functions, we outline abolitionist advocates' positions and implications for children and parents. Across these elements, we delineate how assigning these responsibilities to communities, as suggested by upEND, would likely (1) exaggerate racial and economic inequities and (2) create structural barriers that would increase harm to children. We suggest several evidence‐informed enhancements to practice, research and policy that would mitigate these inequities while also increasing safety and permanency.

Research on the Lived Experiences of Adolescents and Adults With Foster Care History: A Scoping Review

Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research · 2024-10-24 · 1 citations

Objective: Many child welfare scholars, practitioners, and funders are calling for greater inclusion of “lived experience” data and stakeholder voices in foster care research. Yet to date there have been no comprehensive summaries of studies that analyze data collected directly from older youth and adults with lived experience in out-of-home care. To address this knowledge gap, this scoping review maps the extent, nature, and sample characteristics of studies that analyzed data provided by persons age 14 and older with lived foster care experience. Method: We conducted a systematic search of 11 scholarly databases to locate studies (published from1999–2021) that analyzed interview, focus group, survey, or other qualitative data provided by persons (age 14+) with history of out-of-home placement in the United States. Results: Database searches yielded a total of 5785 records, 614 full-text items were screened for eligibility, and 513studies met inclusion criteria. In the average study sample, females comprised a majority of participants, and a plurality of participants identified themselves as Black or African American. Among studies that reported participants’ states of residence, Western and Midwestern states were overrepresented and Southeastern states were underrepresented. Findings also include an analysis of the instruments used to collect data from lived experts. Conclusions: Results suggest a need for additional research involving participants in Southern states and states with large foster care populations, and on understudied topics (e.g., psychotropic medications, technology, religion and spirituality). Overall, findings indicate that qualitative methodologies and diverse stakeholder groups are better represented in foster care research than may be commonly believed/

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Child Protective Services Reporting, Substantiation and Placement, With Comparison to Non-CPS Risks and Outcomes: 2005–2019

Child Maltreatment · 2023-03-29 · 51 citations

We used National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and Census data to examine Black-White and Hispanic-White disparities in reporting, substantiation, and out-of-home placement both descriptively from 2005-2019 and in multivariate models from 2007-2017. We also tracked contemporaneous social risk (e.g., child poverty) and child harm (e.g., infant mortality) disparities using non-child protective services (CPS) sources and compared them to CPS reporting rate disparities. Black-White CPS reporting disparities were lower than found in non-CPS risk and harm benchmarks. Consistent with the Hispanic paradox, Hispanic-White CPS reporting disparities were lower than risk disparities but similar to harm disparities. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of data from the past several years indicated that Black children were less likely to be substantiated or placed into out-of-home care following a report than White children. Hispanic children were slightly more likely to be substantiated or placed in out-of-home care than White children overall, but this difference disappeared in multivariate models. Available data provide no evidence that Black children were overreported relative to observed risks and harms reflected in non-CPS data. Reducing reporting rates among Black children will require addressing broader conditions associated with maltreatment.