Acquisition of a Social Problem-Solving Method by Caregivers in the Foster Care System: Evaluation and Implications

ABSTRACT

All youth are faced with many social issues and problems on a daily basis, and youth in foster care are often less equipped than their peers to make good decisions for themselves. The SODAS problem-solving method is a component of the transition to independence process (TIP) model and is intended for personnel to use with youth and young adults to help them make better decisions when faced with difficult situations. The SODAS method is designed to guide youth through a problem-solving method for a current situation, and over time to acquire improved problem-solving skills. Three caregivers at a group facility for youth in foster care were trained in the use of the SODAS process using behavioral skills training (BST) and were evaluated in their use of SODAS in simulated role-plays with the researchers and with youth participants to test for generalization of the SODAS method to novel situations. Results showed substantial improvement of caregiver application of the steps on the SODAS method from baseline to the posttraining condition when researchers simulated the youth’s role. Results also showed that caregiver proficiency generalized to novel situations presented by youth participants during their role-play probes.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiver training
• decision-making method
• emerging adults
• emotional behavioral disorders
• foster care
• problem-solving process
• TIP model
• transition to adulthood
• young adults
• youth