Foster Care Chronicles: Use of the Arts for Teens Aging Out of the Foster Care System

Abstract

This article describes the use of narrative and drama therapies as creative therapeutic interventions to engage and assist vulnerable youth. Foster Care Chronicles was a collaboration between a state university social work program and a local department of social services in a child welfare unit. This 2-year exploratory project employed an innovative approach to work with foster care youth, all of whom were within 2 years of “aging out” of care. The project utilized narrative therapy and drama therapy in a group setting by building on youths’ individual and collective strengths in writing, speaking, and acting. As these youth assessed their participation in this program, their reflections addressed developing aspects of self-image, self-healing, self-efficacy, and lessons learned.

KEYWORDS:

• foster care
• drama therapy
• narrative therapy
• social work
• creative arts
• creativity in counseling

Additional information

Funding

This study was carried out in collaboration with funding from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Office of Service Learning and student support through the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative.

Notes on contributors

Maura Busch Nsonwu

Maura Busch Nsonwu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina.

Susan Dennison

Susan Dennison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina.

Jennifer Long

Jennifer Long is a Medical Social Worker at the Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredall County, Statesville, North Carolina.