Potential Hardship Young Adults Encounter after Foster Care - Dissertation Example

? Potential Hardship Young Adults Encounter after Foster Care Task This research paper focuses on the potential hardships that young adults aged 19 to 25 years who are leaving foster care face. It considers their lifestyles after they have left these homes and the approaches taken to make them responsible and self sufficient people. It considers the negative and positive aspects that they indulge in along with their impacts to their societies. The research methodology used involves gathering all the required information from the concerned youths. This will be through various data collection methods that include observations, surveys and reading documents revealing some of the experiences that the youths go through. The research tries to give more insight on the questions concerning the reconstruction of the youth lives after they have left foster care. The paper will try to expound on the thesis which focuses on determining if the time spent in the institutions really helps them in becoming responsible and accountable citizens. The paper tries to resolve the question as to how the youths aged 19 to 25 years fare when they have joined the outside world after leaving foster care. The research intends to shed some light of the following questions; do the youths attain self-sufficiency after leaving the homes? What educational attainments do they get from the homes? What connections do they have with other adults in the outside world? What are their experiences with the issue of homelessness once they have left foster care? What can be done to equip these children with skills that will make them responsible?. It will also concern itself with establishing whether the youths indulge in high-risk behaviors after leaving foster care and the effects of the behaviors on their lives. Another major aim of this paper will be to establish whether the children leaving foster care have continued access to insurance cover on their health. In order to accomplish the establishment of the above issues, the research will include conducting surveys, interviews and an analysis on the lives of youths who have left foster homes. The primary objectives of carrying out the research will be to establish what happens to the lives and living conditions of the youths aged 19 to 25 years who have left foster care. The research will also help in ascertaining whether the youths leaving foster care proceed to living positive or negative lives once they have left the homes. It will help in determining how the youths mingle with their community and what impacts do their activities have their societies. Finally, the paper will help in determining which problems the youths face when they have left foster homes and the approaches to assisting them become better responsible citizens. The hypothesis for the research will be charged with establishing whether a relationship exists between the increase in homelessness and criminal acts among the youth. This will be done while considering the rates at which the youths aged 19 to 25 years are leaving foster care. It will also test whether a correlation exists between the rates at which the youths aged 19 to 25 years leave foster homes and the rate at which the homeless people are increasing in the streets. In order for to accomplish all the above objectives and problems, the research will apply qualitative and quantitative techniques of analysis for obtaining information for my research. The qualitative techniques that I intend to use include the application of the grounded notion, participatory and direct observations among others. On the other hand, the quantitative methods of the research will include utilization of the available statistics and the measurement among others (Rubin & Rubin, 2005). Measurements will be applied for the purposes of establishing the causal relationships that exist between different variables in the youths aged 19 to 25 years who have already left foster care, and how they can be helped to be responsible citizens. The methodology utilized when obtaining information from my youthful respondents included eight comprehensive steps. This included the following steps: 1. Formulation of the Research Problems This included the processes involved in elaborating the problems the youth are encountering after leaving foster care. The respondents were beneficial in assisting me to determine what I wanted to find out about their problems. 2. Review of Previously Carried Out Literature on the Subject This activity greatly enabled the acquaintance with the available knowledge concerning the problems the youths were encountering and how they could be helped to be self sufficient. This process consumed a lot of time, but it was beneficial in bringing clarifications when dealing with the problems under consideration. It also gave the opportunity to make improvements on the methodology intended to be used when performing the research. Finally, the literature reviews assisted in broadening knowledge concerning the issues affecting the youths and the process of contextualizing my findings. 3. Establishing Of the Required Research Objectives The process involved setting the goals that were intended to be attained in the process of carrying out the research. The objectives developed help in informing the readers of the purpose of carrying out the research as long as they are worded correctly. 4. Preparation of My Research Designs The major purpose of preparing a design for the research process was to enable its execution while using the minimum required effort, finances and time in carrying out the activities (Berg, 2004). 5. Data Collection This involved utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods of research to get information. It included the issuance of questionnaires, making of observations and conduction of surveys among the target populations. 6. Analyzing and Processing Of the Data Obtained This involved execution of several interrelated activities carried out for outlining the data collected and establishing facts. It also involved organizing the data in manners that resolve the questions being researched. The activities that were involved included editing for the purposes of correcting any errors that had been made and their classification to make correct deductions. 7. Reporting Findings This step involved laying out the findings of the research. This process helped in informing the public and the authorities on the problems that the youths aged 19 to 25 years were encountering. How to select the sample The sample will be selected by specifying the target population which in this case are the youth leaving foster care who are aged between 19 and 25 years in the United States of America. The sample will include around 20000 youths who will be asked various questions to find out the problems they face and what can be done to improve their condition after leaving foster care.The selection process involves the specification of the events that are possible to measure, specification of the sampling methods, the sample sizes and plans along with the actual sampling and data collection processes. Problems the Youths Encountered and Their Solutions When carrying out the research, several data collection methods that range from the qualitative to quantitative types were used in establishing the problems that the youths encountered when they left foster care. The quantitative methods of collecting data used heavily relied on random samples taken from youths located in different areas along with the use of structured instruments of data collection. This technique was vital in fitting different experiences by different youths into categories that gave predetermined answers (Scherer & Ekman, 2002). The results that were produced were quite easily summarized, compared and generalized. The quantitative type of research used was actually concerned with testing the hypothesis learnt from theories. It was also responsible for the estimations on the size of these events. Different youths were assigned with different queries and treatments to gather the required information. In some cases, I also had to collect information on participatory and situational traits among the youths. This enabled the research to be able to determine the foster care’s influence on youth and their outcomes. Probabilistic sampling techniques were applied for the purposes of making generalizations concerning the potential of the youths aged 19 to 25 years who were leaving foster care. The quantitative techniques of data collection that were utilized were the conduction of interviews, the issuance of questionnaires and making observations. In obtaining the relevant information through interviews, several types of interviews were conducted with many youths. Face-to-face, telephone and personal computer assisted interviews were conducted for the purposes of establishing the effects of the youths leaving foster care (Dawson, 2002). Conducting interviews face-to-face with respondents helped in creating rapport with the participants along with their cooperation. These interviews guaranteed the highest rates of response from the respondents. This method was used to collect information on the small issues that the youth were facing. They included inquiries on their financial positions, educational attainments, how they related with other adults on the outside world along with issues of their indulgence in immorality. The method was adequate when dealing with small samples of their population and was not practicable when dealing with large groups of the sample populations. Telephone interviews were also of great use when obtaining the required information from the youths (Markham, 2004). The method was advantageous because lesser time was used leading to a reduction of costs involved in the process. The reply rates were not appropriate for all the interviewed youths whose telephone numbers the research acquired from their former foster homes. This is because not all lines were active and not all youths had direct access to telephone connections. The results seemed bias because only the respondents who had connectivity to telephone services were interviewed. Therefore, the results analyzed from the interviews conducted via telephone could not be generalized for all youths. Interviews that were computer assisted also served the same purposes as the telephone interviews since they were restricted to the people who had computers. Among the youth leaving foster care, only a small percentage of people had access to computer services (Kumar, 2005). This made the results unreliable for generalization. However, the methods used for carrying out interviews were adequate for obtaining results from the youths since most of them responded to most of the issues that had risen. Another method of collecting data that was applied in the research was the use of questionnaires. There were also several types questionnaires that were applicable when collecting data from large population samples. They included the issuance of questionnaires based on web technology and paper-pencil. These questionnaires essentially made use of scales for rating responses and checklists. The respondents could use for indicating their responses and reactions to their treatment by the populations outside the foster homes. The use of questionnaires based on the web produced bias results since only the respondents with access to the internet could have participated in the process. This method greatly helped in the quantification of the youths behaviors along with their attitudes. The qualitative techniques of research that were utilized included participating in the settings, direct observations along with the analysis of various documents and materials (Groth-Marnat, 2003). In depth interview of various respondents to acquire information on the conditions the youths were going through were also conducted. When carrying out the observations, recording of various the youths events, behaviors along with the objects found in their community settings was done. Observing required no particular effort and included just observing the settings where the youths were located and recording the results for a further analysis (Kumar, 2005). By using this qualitative method, the research led into believing that the behaviors of the youths is purposeful and expresses their deeper values along with their beliefs. This method was quite appropriate in the discovery of interactions that were complex to comprehend in their natural settings. The advantage of this method is that it helped to discover the meaning of the respondents’ body languages (Groth-Marnat, 2003). The observations made were carried out on the youths who had left foster care after consulting their foster homes for their current locations and addresses. However, several challenges were faced when carrying out these observations since it could not appropriately identify the exact picture of the situations the youths were experiencing. The process of observing respondents behaviors and attitudes was quite helpful in finding out the main problems the youth were undergoing. This was about their abilities to become self-sufficient, their educational attainments along with their indulgence in behaviors that brought high risks (Tilley, 2003). Execution of in an in-depth interview with respondents meant that conversations with the youths had to be made with the purpose of attaining the objectives of the research. The research had to specifically locate the youths who had left foster care for the purposes of questioning them. This aided in appreciating the manner in which participants at the interviewee’s structure their answers (Czaja & Blair, 2005). Through these interactions with the youths who had left the foster care, the research was able to find out the various problems they were encountering once they were out of the foster homes. The disadvantage to this method was that it only addressed a few of the youth’s problems due to the restrictions on time experienced. However, the technique helped in acquiring greater insights on their problems concerning education, their interactions with other members of their community along with their reasons for indulging in behaviors that brought high risks to their lives. The use of the in-depth interviews enabled the research to create conversations with the respondents who gave their perceptions concerning the issues that affected them in their daily lives (Rubin & Rubin, 2005). The major problems the research found the youths encountered were associated with their ease of accessing insurance covers after leaving foster care, their interactions with members of the community. They also encountered the problems of being homeless, indulging in behaviors that had high risks and the pursuit of their educational goals. The majority of the youths interviewed also lacked the ability of being self sufficient when meeting their daily expenses. They claimed that their problems were augmented by their lack of stable jobs and sources of finance (Berg, 2004). In order to resolve the issues affecting the youths, several measures have been suggested to assist them. The government has been urged to come up with comprehensive policies that will ensure that the youth obtain insurance cover for their health after they have left foster homes (Dawson, 2002). This is because most of the youths interviewed had developed health problems after leaving the homes and their health conditions had deteriorated. The government has also been urged to ensure that the youths acquire sufficient educational and technical skills that will enable them to acquire jobs. The attainment of jobs will have several positive repercussions for the youth who have in turn been indulging in behaviors involving high risks. Such behaviors include their indulgence in drug peddling and other crimes such as stealing, burglary along with prostitution among the youthful women leaving foster care (Groth-Marnat, 2003). The government has also been urged to assist the youth in starting businesses across the country through the provision of finances to facilitate their activities. These measures will go a long way in alleviating the problems the youths face upon leaving the foster homes. The government has been urged to begin institutions that will provide guidance and counseling centers for providing professional assistance to the youths who have encountered problems when interacting with members of their communities (Dawson, 2002). Issues to Consider Potential Problems with the Research’s Scientific Objectivity Prior to the research, there was the assumption that the owners of the foster homes provide the youths with adequate psychological support. This would enable them to avoid indulging in behaviors that would result in high risks. The research will assume that all the youth being researched prior to its commencement are all healthy and do not suffer from any disabilities. This is because it concerned itself with the task of finding out the problems affecting able bodied youths. The inclusion of youths with disabilities in the research could result in wrong generalizations. The research will avoid being biased by using third parties to measure the observations and using specific criteria’s when doing observations (Groth-Marnat, 2003). Potential Ethical Problems in Your Study The research will not bring any harm to the society once it is complete or during its implementation. The research will be beneficial to the subjects because it will assist in highlighting their problems with the aim of resolving them. The audiences for the research are the regulatory bodies that help in controlling the youth’s behavior after leaving foster care. They will rely on the recommendations reached to improve on the youth welfare (Dawson, 2002). The research will be ethical in disclosing and recommending policies that will help in eradicating the crime rates among the youth and their communities. Potential Issues with Sampling The research will target its analysis on the youth aged 19 to 25 years. The unit of analysis that will be utilized is the average desirable traits for youths who range between the ages of 19-25 years. They will be interviewed for the purposes of acquiring information which will be used for making generalizations. The total number of people for and against an issue will be analyzed and their probabilities derived. The type of sampling the research will use is the probabilistic sampling method, which considers the probabilities of certain events and activities occurring (Kumar, 2005). It will require a total of three stages which are the stages of collecting information, analyzing it and determining the probabilities so as to make generalizations on your findings. This method is appropriate to the research since it is easier and can be used across many fields to make overall conclusions (Dawson, 2002). The Sampling Frame to Be Utilized This research will utilize the list of all children who have been in foster homes. This will be availed by the federal government of the United States of America for the year 2011. The list will assist the research with all the names of the children aged between 19 and 25 years to enable the researcher to easily access them. The ease of getting to the children will ensure that the required information is easily obtained (Fine & sandstorm, 2008) Conclusion The problems the youth encountered regarding issues such as the obtaining of their educational goals, their self sufficiency, interactions with their community’s members and access to insurance services covering their health have been efficiently resolved (Groth-Marnat, 2003). The problems the youth encounter their health covers has been dealt with by the governments’ subsidies and directives to insurance companies. The instructions given enable the insurance companies to accommodate the youths who have left foster homes and are not self-sufficient. The move will greatly assist in ensuring that the youth who form the country’s future work force remain healthy (Kumar, 2005). The government has also began establishing guidance and counseling centers to help the youths in overcoming the problems they encounter when mingling with the other members of their community. These centers will also be of great importance in helping youths with bad behaviors to reform. The government has been requested to intervene on the financing of activities that will enable the youths in becoming self-sufficient. This will mainly be done through initiatives to help them finance any business ideas they might be having of improving their lifestyles. Establishment of such funds by the authorities will assist the youths to avoid indulging in behaviors, which could bring high risks to their well-being (Groth-Marnat, 2003). The objectives of carrying out the research, which was the establishment of the problems the youths were encountering and how they can be helped, was adequately achieved through the data collection methods, which included the use of questionnaires and issuing questionnaires to the respondents. The knowledge obtained through the implementation of this research will be vital for many purposes. It will be of great importance in assisting the authorities responsible for following up on the well-being of the youths aged between 19 and 25 years after they have left foster care (Rubin & Rubin, 2005). Follow Up Survey Questions 1. What activities do you participate in to earn an income and become self-sufficient? 2. Do you indulge in any activities to enable you enhance your education? 3. How do you relate with the members of your community? 4. Have you had any problems in accessing health insurance? 5. Have you been arrested for indulging in any bad behaviors? 6. Do you afford paying for your health insurance cover? 7. What additional educational milestones have you achieved since leaving foster care? 8. Do you feel that the members of your community accept you? 9. Which risky behaviors have you observed in your community? 10. How do you think we can curb the risk behaviors in your society? 11. Do you feel like a stranger in your community after leaving foster care/ 12. Do you think you have missed any opportunities when you were in health care? 13. Who are your friends and what activities do they indulge in? 14. Are you currently covered by any insurance schemes? 15. Are you comfortable with the idea of being out of foster care? 16. Are you able to relate well with fellow young adults who have not been to foster care? 17. Do you think you have learnt anything important from the foster home environment? 18. How do you think your community perceives your spell in foster care? 19. Do you think you will revert to the same old habits you had prior to joining foster care? 20. What activities do you indulge in to help you in becoming self sufficient since leaving foster care? References Berg, B. L. (2004). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Pp143-159. Czaja, R. & Blair, J. (2005). Designing Surveys: A Guide to Decisions and Procedures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge. Pp145. Dawson, Catherine, (2002), Practical Research Methods. New Delhi: UBS Publishers’ Distributors.Pp23-169 Groth-Marnat, G. (2003). Handbook of Psychology Assessment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.Pp69-189. Fine, G. A., & Sandstrom, K. L. (2008). Knowing Youths: Participant Observation With Youths. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Pp7-179. Kumar, R. (2005), Research Methodology-A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners. Singapore: Pearson Education. Pp25-38. Markham, A. N. (2004). Internet Communication as a Tool for Qualitative Research. In D. Silverman, Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Pp25-30. Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2005). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pp47. Scherer, K. R., & Ekman, R. (2002). Handbook Of Methods In Nonverbal Behavior Research. New York: Cambridge University Press. Pp79-102. Tilley, S. A. (2003). “Challenging” Research Practices: Turning a Critical Lens On The Work of Transcription. Qualitative Inquiry. New York: Springer. Read More