“They Show Us that We’re Important”: Facilitators of Service Utilization Among Expectant and Parenting Youth with Foster Care Histories

Expectant or parenting youth (EPY) with foster care histories are often in need of a range of services yet experience barriers to accessing and utilizing those services. This exploratory qualitative study was informed by ecological systems theory and utilized interviews and focus groups with EPY ( n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child & adolescent social work journal 2022-12, Vol.39 (6), p.749-762
Main Authors: Villagrana, Kalah M., Carver, Ann Turnlund, Holley, Lynn C., Ogbonnaya, Ijeoma Nwabuzor, Stott, Tonia, Denby, Ramona, Ferguson, Kristin M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Child Rearing
Clinical Psychology
Credibility
Empathy
Employment
Focus Groups
Foster care
Health education
Housing
Mental health
Mental health services
Navigation
Parents & parenting
Personality and Social Psychology
Pregnancy
Psychology
Sociology
System theory
Systems Approach
Systems theory
Trauma
Youth
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Summary:Expectant or parenting youth (EPY) with foster care histories are often in need of a range of services yet experience barriers to accessing and utilizing those services. This exploratory qualitative study was informed by ecological systems theory and utilized interviews and focus groups with EPY ( n  = 11) and service providers ( n  = 28) to identify factors that facilitate service utilization for EPY. We found characteristics at the service provider, agency, and system levels that act as facilitators. Service provider characteristics that facilitate service use include empathy and trustworthiness, supportive navigation, and youth-centeredness. Agency facilitators included representative diversity and inclusivity, trauma-informed training and practice, and availability of tangible supports. System facilitators included having a variety of service providers, systems integration, and co-location. Findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the facilitators that contribute to EPY’s service utilization. Future research is warranted to examine how these youth- and provider-identified drivers of service use influence health, mental health, parenting, education, relationships, employment, and housing outcomes for EPY.
ISSN:0738-0151
1573-2797
DOI:10.1007/s10560-022-00855-3