Shpiegel, S. & Ocasio, K. (2015). Functioning patterns among older adolescents in foster care: Results from a cluster analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 58, 227-235.
Youth transitioning out of foster care are a heterogeneous group, revealing dysfunctional as well as ‘resilient’ functioning and outcomes. Understanding the variation in functioning, strengths, vulnerabilities and child welfare experiences is crucial to determining the type and intensity of supports and supervision required as youth transition from care into adulthood.
This study is based on secondary data analysis of the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) and Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). The NYTD is a nationwide initiative to better understand the needs of foster youth as they transition out of foster care, gathering data from foster care youths aged 17, 19, and 21 years. For the present study, baseline data from the first cohort of youths (2011) in the NYTD outcome component was analyzed, comprising a nationally representative sample of 14,402 17-year-old foster youths. Cluster analysis was used in this study to form subgroups within the sample based on participants’ shared characteristics.
Subgroups were identified based on indicators including educational attainment, connection to a supportive adult, adolescent parenthood, homelessness, substance abuse referral and incarceration. The groups were then compared on a variety of pre-removal factors (e.g., demographic variables and reasons for out-of-home placement) and post-removal factors (e.g., various placement variables). Five distinct subgroups were revealed, labeled – resilient (39%), substance abuse (19%), multiple problems (15%), incarceration only (14%), and homeless (13%). The resilient group functioned successfully in all domains. However, continued monitoring and periodic assessment was recommended to ensure any problems were not overlooked. Youths in the substance abuse group were enrolled in school and connected to a supportive adult. Therefore, in addition to intensive substance abuse intervention, school-based programming and permanency planning with supportive adults were deemed potentially beneficial service orientations. The multiple problems group consisted of some youths for whom intensive overall supports would be required, while others would require more targeted services designed to support parenting and financial independence. The incarceration only group was comprised of youths with many strengths and few risk factors other than problem behaviors. Thus, intensive targeted interventions for emotional and/or behavioral problems would be required. Finally, due to substance abuse and criminal involvement, some members of the homeless group might require intensive supports with services building upon existing strengths, such as school enrollment and connections with supportive adults.
A strength of this study is the use of cluster analysis, a person-centered method capable of uncovering complex patterns of relationships among variables. The use of a large, nationally representative sample from the well-known NYTD database is also a strength. Limitations include the low response rate for the NYTD survey (just over 50%), the limited detail in the variables used and the cross-sectional nature of the analysis. Future research using subsequent waves of NYTD data will allow longitudinal examinations that could follow youths until the age of 21 or beyond, and should include additional indicators of successful youth adaptation.