Educational Experiences of Children and Youths in Foster Care: A Multidimensional Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/16.1/816Keywords:
educational experiences, foster care, students, feelings towards school, school climate, relationship with peers and teachersAbstract
In the context in which school education can be a source of support for the social integration of children and youths in the welfare system, their educational experiences become relevant. This article pinpoints the school experiences of 65 children and youths in the special residential care system in Romania, with references to several numbers of international studies. Educational experiences are described through a multidimensional approach, from a psycho-emotional, pedagogical, and relational perspective. Based on the perspective of institutionalised children and youths, feelings and emotions related to school, perceptions of the educational act and climate, educational needs, as well as relationships with peers or teachers are explored. The research methods used were mixed; we used both the questionnaire-based survey and the interview. The research results suggest that the voices of institutionalised students need to be heard and valued. These are important resources for restoring the right of these children and youths to a fair education.
References
Andenas, D., Lapin, K. (2013). Échec scolaire et difficulties scolaires: la pédagogie différenciée, une réponse? Education. https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-01017113/document.
Bejenaru, A. M. (2013). Riscuri şi strategii de supravieţuire în centrele de plasament. [Risks and survival strategies in foster care centers]. Astra Museum.
Berridge, D. (2017). The education of children in care: Agency and resilience. Children and Youth Services Review, 77, 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.04.004
Clemens, E. V., Helm, H. M., Myers, K., Thomas, C., & Tis, M. (2017). The voices of youth formerly in foster care: Perspectives on educational attainment gaps. Children and Youth Services Review, 79, 65-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.003
Day, A., Riebschleger, J., Dworsky, A., Damashek, A., & Fogarty, K. (2012). Maximizing educational opportunities for youth aging out of foster care by engaging youth voices in a partnership for social change. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(5), 1007-1014.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.02.001
Fantuzzo, J. W., Perlman, S. M., & Dobbins, E. K. (2011). Types and timing of child maltreatment and early school success: A population-based investigation. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(8), 1404-1411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.04.010
Font, S. A., Gershoff, E. T. (2020). Foster care: How we can, and should, do more for maltreated children. Social policy report, 33(3), 1-40. https://doi.org/10.1002/sop2.10
Gilligan, R. (2012). Promoting a sense of ‘secure base’for children in foster care–Exploring the potential contribution of foster fathers. Journal of social work practice, 26(4), 473-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2012.709229
Harker, R. M., Dobel‐Ober, D., Lawrence, J., Berridge, D., & Sinclair, R. (2003). Who takes care of education? Looked after children's perceptions of support for educational progress. Child & Family Social Work, 8(2), 89-100. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2206.2003.00272.x
Hass, M., Allen, Q., & Amoah, M. (2014). Turning points and resilience of academically successful foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 44, 387-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.07.008
Hernandez, L., Day, A., & Henson, M. (2017). Increasing college access and retention rates of youth in foster care: An analysis of the impact of 22 state tuition waiver programs. Journal of Policy Practice, 16(4), 397-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/15588742.2017.1311819
Klasen, S. (1999). Social exclusion, children and education: conceptual and measurement issues. https://www.oecd.org/education/innovation-education/1855901.pdf.
Legal Center for Foster Care and Education. (2008). Blueprint for change: Education success for children in foster care. https://dokumen.tips/documents/blueprint-for-change-american-bar-the-first-edition-of-the-blueprint-for-change.html?page=6.
Maté, G. (2011). Scattered minds: The origins and healing of attention deficit disorder. Vintage Canada.
Miller, H., Bourke, R., & Dharan, V. (2023). Fostering success: Young people’s experience of education while in foster care. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 27(6), 689-703. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2020.1867378
Morton, B. M. (2015). Barriers to academic achievement for foster youth: The story behind the statistics. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 29, 4, 476-491. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2015.1073817
National Working Group on Foster Care and Education. (2014). Fostering success in education: National factsheet on the educational outcomes of children in foster care. Research Highlights on Education and Foster Care, 1-20. http://cdn.fc2success.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/National-Fact-Sheet-on-the-Educational-Outcomes-ofChildren-in-Foster-Care-Jan-2014.pdf
Palmieri, L. E., & La Salle, T. P. (2017). Supporting students in foster care. Psychology in the Schools, 54(2), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21990
Pirttimaa, R., & Välivaara, C. (2018). Educational intervention planning for children in foster care in Finland: A case study. Education Inquiry, 9(2), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1080/20004508.2017.1328932
Rădăcină, O. E. (2022). Educational needs and problems of Romanian children and teenagers in foster care. Revista de Asistenţă Socială, 21(3), 45-52.
Rutman, D., & Hubberstey, C. (2018). Fostering educational success of children and youth in care: Perspectives of youth with experience living in care. Children and Youth Services Review, 94, 257-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.10.022
Scherr, T. G. (2007). Educational experiences of children in foster care: Meta-analyses of special education, retention and discipline rates. School Psychology International, 28(4), 419-436. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034307084133
Scherr, T. G. (2007). Educational experiences of children in foster care: Meta-analyses of special education, retention and discipline rates. School Psychology International, 28(4), 419-436. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034307084133
Schroeter, M. K., Strolin-Goltzman, J., Suter, J., Werrbach, M., Hayden-West, K., Wilkins, Z., ... & Rock, J. (2015). Foster youth perceptions on educational well-being. Families in Society, 96(4), 227-233. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.2015.96.30
SOS Satele Copiilor (2020). Raport privind situaţia copiilor care părăsesc sistemul de protecţie specială din România. [Survey on the situation of young people who leave the special protection system in Romania]. http://andpdca.gov.ro/w/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Studiu-tineri-iesiti-web-final-0907.pdf.
Stănescu, S. M., Bojinca, M., Alexandrescu, A. M., Ernu, S., & Rădulescu, L. (2013). Ghid pentru înfiinţarea de întreprinderi sociale pentru tineri peste 18 ani care părăsesc sistemul instituţionalizat de protecţie a copilului. [Guide for the establishment of social entreprises for young people over 18 who leave the Institutionalized Child Care System], Bucureşti: Programul ONU pentru Dezvoltare România. https://phoenix-proiect.ro/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Ghid-pentru-infiintarea-de-intreprinderi-sociale-pentru-tineri-peste-18-ani-care-parasesc-sistemul-institutionalizat-de-protectie-a-copilului_website.pdf. Accesat în 27.05.2022.
Strolin-Goltzman, J., Woodhouse, V., Suter, J., & Werrbach, M. (2016). A mixed method study on educational well-being and resilience among youth in foster care. Children and youth services review, 70, 30-36
Tessier, N. G., O'Higgins, A., & Flynn, R. J. (2018). Neglect, educational success, and young people in out-of-home care: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Child Abuse & Neglect, 75, 115-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.06.005
Toth, A., & Mina, D. (2020). Studiu privind situaţia tinerilor care părăsesc sistemul de protecţie specială din România [Study on the situation of teenagers who leave the Romanian special protection system]. http://andpdca.gov.ro/w/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Studiu-tineri-iesiti-web-final-0907.pdf.
Townsend, I. M., Berger, E. P., & Reupert, A. E. (2020). Systematic review of the educational experiences of children in care: Children’s perspectives. Children and Youth Services Review, 111, 104835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104835
White, T., Scott Jr, L. D., & Munson, M. R. (2018). Extracurricular activity participation and educational outcomes among older youth transitioning from foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 85, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.11.010
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 The Authors & LUMEN Publishing House
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant this journalright of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work, with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as an earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala Journal has an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
CC BY-NC-ND
