"We Had to Rely on Each Other": Voices of Latinx Foster Youth with Experiences in Care with Siblings
First Advisor
Jessica Rodriguez-JenKins
Date of Award
Summer 2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Social Work and University Honors
Department
Social Work
Language
English
Subjects
Hispanic American children -- Institutional care, Brothers and sisters -- Institutional care, Foster children -- Care, Hispanic Americans -- Ethnic identity, Foster home care, Family social work
DOI
10.15760/honors.959
Abstract
Relationships between members of sibling groups have been found to impact well-being for children who enter foster care. Being placed in stranger foster care is often challenging and can be traumatic with children reporting confusion, worry, and loss of identity and sense of belonging. While there is some research that explores the experiences of siblings groups in foster care and others separately that examines Latinx children in foster care, there is very little information that looks into the potentially unique experiences of Latinx individuals who were in care with siblings that also accounts for cultural nuance.
This study used a mixed-methods exploratory design with a demographic questionnaire and interview components that answers the research question: How do various factors affect the experiences of Latinx foster youth in care with siblings? Participants were invited to be interviewed either in person or over the phone. A constant comparative analytic method was used to analyze the interview transcripts to identify common themes. This exploratory study begins to discuss how social work practitioners and foster placements can better support this specific population of children in care. Findings suggest the importance of listening to foster youth and hearing their voices, understanding the role responsibility plays in familial relationships in the Latinx culture, and culturally responsive and individualized knowledge and care from social workers and foster placements.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/34328
Recommended Citation
Ginsberg, Isabella B., ""We Had to Rely on Each Other": Voices of Latinx Foster Youth with Experiences in Care with Siblings" (2020). University Honors Theses. Paper 936.
https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.959