Abstract：
Young adults of color with foster care experience are disproportionately represented in foster care in the United States. Developing meaningful connections with child welfare professionals can help young adults develop healthy relationships in emerging adulthood.
This exploratory qualitative study addressed how young adults with foster care experience described their relationships with child welfare professionals and the impact of these relationships on their overall mental health and well-being in young adulthood.
A sample of young adults of color, (ages 18-29) with lived experience in foster care from a performing arts program in New York City.
Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on 14 semi-structured interviews with young adults of color with prior or ongoing foster care experience.
The following themes were identified: safe space to be myself, listen to more than words, and understand my trauma. Child welfare professionals were dropped from support networks if they were disingenuous or did not attend to their own self-care needs.
The study underscores the importance of promoting positive mental health outcomes for young adults through building stronger connections with child welfare professionals. Future research should explore the incorporation of individualized approaches to better serve this population of young adults.
This exploratory qualitative study addressed how young adults with foster care experience described their relationships with child welfare professionals and the impact of these relationships on their overall mental health and well-being in young adulthood.
A sample of young adults of color, (ages 18-29) with lived experience in foster care from a performing arts program in New York City.
Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on 14 semi-structured interviews with young adults of color with prior or ongoing foster care experience.
The following themes were identified: safe space to be myself, listen to more than words, and understand my trauma. Child welfare professionals were dropped from support networks if they were disingenuous or did not attend to their own self-care needs.
The study underscores the importance of promoting positive mental health outcomes for young adults through building stronger connections with child welfare professionals. Future research should explore the incorporation of individualized approaches to better serve this population of young adults.
摘要：
背景：在美国，有寄养经验的有色人种的年轻人在寄养中的比例不成比例。与儿童福利专业人员建立有意义的联系可以帮助年轻人在成年后发展健康的关系。
目的：这项探索性定性研究探讨了有寄养经验的年轻人如何描述他们与儿童福利专业人员的关系，以及这些关系对他们成年后整体心理健康和幸福感的影响。
方法：有色人种的年轻成年人样本，（18-29岁），在纽约市的一个表演艺术节目中拥有寄养经验。
方法：对14例半结构化的有色人种青年进行了反思式主题分析，并对其进行了先前或持续的寄养经验。
结果：确定了以下主题：成为自己的安全空间，听更多的话，理解我的创伤.如果儿童福利专业人员不诚实或不关心自己的自我保健需求，他们将被从支持网络中删除。
结论：该研究强调了通过与儿童福利专业人员建立更紧密的联系来促进年轻人积极的心理健康结果的重要性。未来的研究应该探索结合个性化的方法，以更好地服务于这一群体的年轻人。
目的：这项探索性定性研究探讨了有寄养经验的年轻人如何描述他们与儿童福利专业人员的关系，以及这些关系对他们成年后整体心理健康和幸福感的影响。
方法：有色人种的年轻成年人样本，（18-29岁），在纽约市的一个表演艺术节目中拥有寄养经验。
方法：对14例半结构化的有色人种青年进行了反思式主题分析，并对其进行了先前或持续的寄养经验。
结果：确定了以下主题：成为自己的安全空间，听更多的话，理解我的创伤.如果儿童福利专业人员不诚实或不关心自己的自我保健需求，他们将被从支持网络中删除。
结论：该研究强调了通过与儿童福利专业人员建立更紧密的联系来促进年轻人积极的心理健康结果的重要性。未来的研究应该探索结合个性化的方法，以更好地服务于这一群体的年轻人。
