“Resilience,” as Defined by Foster Youth and Key Stakeholders

ABSTRACT

Research on foster youth often focuses on risk, rather than adaptation, strengths, and assets. Some researchers have shifted the narrative by examining resiliency, but there is limited understanding on how to define and measure resilience specifically among current and former foster youth. This study begins with a meta-synthesis of the qualitative research (n = 31, 1990-2020) that discuss resilience with foster youth. We then examine data from twenty-two qualitative interviews regarding resilience with key stakeholders in child welfare. The findings inform an understanding of resiliency that is inclusive and culturally responsive to current and former foster youth.

  

Keywords:

• Resilience
• foster care
• meta-synthesis
• child welfare

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank A Home Within for their long-term, consistent support of current and former foster youth, their funding of this research project, and their support in recruiting participants.

We also wish to thank the University of San Francisco for funding compensation of the student researchers of the Foster Care Research Group.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).