Group Homes and COVID-19: Perspectives of Youth Residents, Staff, and Caregivers

Objective: This study explored the perspectives of being in a youth group home during the COVID-19 pandemic from youth residents, staff, and caregivers. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 9 youth residents, 8 group home staff members, and 13 caregivers of residents. All participan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-07, Vol.19 (15), p.8978
Main Authors: Howey, Whitney, Assadollahi, Andrea, Lundahl, Brad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Caregivers
Children & youth
Communication
Constructivism
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Disease transmission
Families & family life
Group homes
Health behavior
Interviews
Mental health
Pandemics
Quarantine
Resilience
Safety
Sex crimes
Social interaction
Socialization
Youth
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Summary:Objective: This study explored the perspectives of being in a youth group home during the COVID-19 pandemic from youth residents, staff, and caregivers. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 9 youth residents, 8 group home staff members, and 13 caregivers of residents. All participants were connected to the group home before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was used to identify lived experience themes. Results: Two overarching themes were identified among the youth residents—Safety response to COVID-19 and Socialization changes due to COVID—along with three subthemes: Structure leading to separation, Support and belonging amid a pandemic, and Competency. Three overarching themes were identified among the group home staff: Safety response to COVID-19, Increased responsibility, and Mental health changes because of a pandemic. Finally, three overarching themes were identified among the guardians of youth residents: Safety response to COVID-19, Belief in a mental health impact on the child, and Communication during a pandemic. Conclusions: The findings provide the experiences among three group home stakeholders. Overall, they demonstrated resilience in a setting and time when resilience was essential. Finally, the findings offer insight on the basis of which group homes/organizations can prepare for crises of a great magnitude, including vital communication elements.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19158978