Sarah Geenen

Multicultural Aspects of Parent Involvement in Transition Planning

This study surveyed 308 African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American and European-American parents to assess their level of participation in various transition planning activities and how important each activity was to them. In addition, 52 school professionals completed a parallel survey of their perceptions toward parent participation. Analyses indicate that culturally and linguistically diverse parents are active in the transition process and, in some instances, their level of reported participation surpassed that of European-American parents. In contrast, professionals described culturally and linguistically diverse parents as less involved than European-American parents in the majority of transition activities. The results are discussed in terms of how the participation of culturally and linguistically diverse parents can be better supported and the importance of transition planning extending beyond school to include other life domains.

Transition Goals and Experiences of Females with Disabilities: Youth, Parents, and Professionals

This study examined the influence of gender on the transition goals and experiences of female students with disabilities. Data were gathered from 146 participants, including female youth with disabilities (n = 67), parents of young women with disabilities (n = 34), and professionals who work with them (n = 45). Findings suggest that females with disabilities have unique experiences related to (a) type of transition goals established for them; (b) factors that shape these transition goals, such as self-perception, mentors, peers, family, and exposure to opportunities; (c) sources of support and impediments to transition to adulthood, such as special education personnel and programs; and (d) contextual issues, such as cultural and linguistic diversity. Practice and future research implications are discussed.

Youth With Disabilities in Foster Care: Developing Self-Determination Within a Context of Struggle and Disempowerment

Abstract This article focuses on the transition experiences of foster youth with disabilities, a group of students with disabilities who have often been neglected by researchers and policy makers. We begin by discussing transition outcomes for youth with disabilities, highlighting the progress that has been achieved in recent years, and noting that much of this progress is related to the effective transition planning practice of promoting self-determination. We then examine the challenging context children in foster care typically face as they move into adulthood, drawing attention to the neglect of policy and practices designed to promote self-determination for foster youth with disabilities. To do this, we describe 4 recent studies by our research group that involve this vulnerable population and stress key elements of self-determination that seem to be lacking in the context in which these youth function. We end by emphasizing the need to continue focusing on this at-risk group of young people, as well as on transition supports that promote their self-determination.

Better futures: a randomized field test of a model for supporting young people in foster care with mental health challenges to participate in higher education.

The purpose of the study was to conduct a preliminary efficacy evaluation of the Better Futures model, which is focused on improving the postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges. Sixty-seven youth were randomized to either a control group that received typical services or an intervention group, which involved participation in a Summer Institute, individual peer coaching, and mentoring workshops. Findings indicate significant gains for the intervention group on measures of postsecondary participation, postsecondary and transition preparation, hope, self-determination, and mental health empowerment, as compared to the control group. Youth in the intervention group also showed positive trends in the areas of mental health recovery, quality of life, and high school completion. Implications for future research and practice are discussed, while emphasizing the capacities of youth in foster care with mental health conditions to successfully prepare for and participate fully in high education.

Improving Transition Outcomes for Marginalized Youth

This article describes research designed to identify the impact of marginalization on transition planning for two groups of youth with disabilities: Latinas and youth in foster care. Findings are presented through the ecological systems framework, which provides a useful means of examining differing single and multilevel influences on transition planning. Data from each area are provided to identify the unique barriers and sources of support that these youth experience. Results support the need to consider the culture of marginalization and disenfranchisement within a broad diversity lens when developing transition plans and providing services to youth with disabilities. The discussion includes a guide for transition service providers and reflects approaches that more appropriately address circumstances faced by marginalized youth with disabilities.

Similarities and Differences in the Transition Expectations of Youth and Parents

This study explored similarities and differences in the transition expectations of parents and youth. Independent samples of parents (N = 270) of transition-age youth with disabilities and students with disabilities (N = 242) were surveyed about the importance of achieving various adult goals, having specific types of transition-related training and skills, and potential barriers to transition. Factor analysis of the data yielded six scales, and significant differences were found between youth and parents on four of these scales indicating that parents tend to value teacher support more, whereas youth reported higher levels of self-esteem, greater barriers to transition, and more interest in assuming caretaking roles in their future. Parents and students were in agreement, however, around the goals they felt were most important for transition: finishing high school, having health insurance, and having access to a good doctor.

Experimental Study of a Self-Determination Intervention for Youth in Foster Care

The aim of the study was to conduct a longitudinal, randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of TAKE CHARGE, a self-determination enhancement intervention, for promoting the school performance of youth in special education and foster care. A total of 133 youth were randomized to either a control group that received typical services, or to the intervention group that received coaching in the application of self-determination skills to achieve their goals, as well as participating in group mentoring workshops with successful young adult alumni of foster care. Findings on the outcomes of 123 youth who completed the study suggest gains for the intervention group in elements of self-determination, engagement in educational planning, school performance, and reduced anxiety and depression.

Assessing Restrictiveness: A Closer Look at the Foster Care Placements and Perceptions of Youth With and Without Disabilities Aging Out of Care

This study examined the experience of restrictiveness among transition-aged youth in foster care. Utilizing a sample of 207 youth, placement types and youth perceptions of restriction around communication, movement around ones home, and access to the community were examined for youth receiving special education services, youth receiving developmental disability services, and youth without disabilities. Youth with disabilities were more likely to be placed in more restrictive placement types and had significantly higher levels of perceived restriction in all areas. Additionally, males with disabilities experienced higher levels of restrictiveness, while White youth with disabilities also experienced greater community restrictiveness.

Reaching everyone: Promoting the inclusion of youth with disabilities in evaluating foster care outcomes

Efforts to evaluate foster care outcomes must avoid systematic exclusion of particular groups. Although often unrecognized as such, youth with disabilities are highly overrepresented in the U.S. foster care system, and yet youth with some disabilities, including those with intellectual, serious emotional, and physical impairments may be underrepresented in research and evaluation studies evaluating foster care outcomes. The recruitment and retention of youth with various disabilities in such studies can be impeded by under-identification of disability and relatively high placement and school mobility. Furthermore, youth with various disabilities may experience more disappointing outcomes than foster youth overall, underscoring the importance of including these youth in outcome tracking efforts. This is especially relevant given the recent implementation of the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), which requires that state child welfare agencies gather baseline information about youth in foster care at age 17, and then survey outcomes at 19 and 21. To promote the full participation of foster youth with disabilities in such outcome evaluation, this paper describes successful strategies for identifying and retaining participants that were used in three separate longitudinal intervention studies. These strategies include the systematic recruitment of foster youth by special education status, and creative use of validated tracking and retention strategies incorporating minor accommodations as needed.