Transitions to Adulthood Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
Winning Youth Essays on Mental Health
October 24, 2022 | NWI
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces 15 awardees for the 2022 Speaking Up about Mental Health! This Is My Story Essay Contest. The contest seeks to start conversations about mental health and encourage young people to access help for mental health issues. Read the winning essays now!
New Program Successfully Supports Foster Youth in College
September 23, 2022 | NWI
This study is the first identified randomized experiment to evaluate a post-secondary support program for enrolled college students with foster care backgrounds and mental health challenges. Analysis showed evidence of intervention impact on important targeted outcomes at post-intervention and/or 6-month follow-up, including self-determination, career-related self-efficacy and career exploration activities, and mental health self-efficacy and empowerment.
Challenges for Families of Special-Needs Children Adopted from Overseas
August 7, 2022 | NWI
For years, evangelical Christians were enthusiastic supporters of adoption by sponsoring conferences, targeting adoption-friendly Sundays and staging adoption fairs in parish halls. Thousands of overseas children got new homes. Leading the way were evangelical luminaries such as recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman (three daughters from China) and then-Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore (two sons from Russia). Enthusiastic parents took up the challenge, traveling overseas for one or more children, even adopting special needs kids whose home countries were not interested in their care. More than a decade after this movement peaked, many families who went overseas are in crisis mode.
New Study of Wraparound with Homeless Youth
August 7, 2022 | NWI
A newly-published study, Watch Me Rise: An Evaluation of Wraparound With Homeless Youth With a Child Welfare History presents findings from a formative evaluation of youth outcomes. Results indicate youth housing stability improved within the first six months of youth enrolling in WMR. Youth also demonstrated improvements in life domain functioning and employment and/or employment readiness. Although several other outcomes were not achieved or the results were inconclusive, the study highlights important insights for working with and studying this important population.
Virtual Best Practices Guide
September 12, 2021 | NWI
This guide, from a well-respected community mental health provider, describes best practices for using virtual technology tools to teach vocational skills, build connections with young people and employers, and support internship success.
The Latest on Teen Brain Development and Mental Health
May 9, 2021 | NWI
Many mental health conditions first appear in adolescence. Scientists believe that a driving factor of this change is the growth rate of myelin. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates the connections between cells and leads to better transmission of information. New research suggests that myelin in the prefrontal cortex grows more slowly in adolescents who are struggling more with their mental health.
Study Finds Psychiatric Disorders Persist 15 Years After Youth Are Detained
April 18, 2021 | NWI
A new study shows that youth arrested as juveniles with psychiatric disorders that remain untreated continue to struggle with mental health and successful outcomes well beyond adolescence. The research shows nearly two-thirds of males and more than one-third of females with one or more existing psychiatric disorders when they entered detention still had a disorder 15 years later.
Coping With Holidays While Aging Out of Foster Care
January 15, 2021 | NWI
In this blog post, a former foster youth recalls holidays past and reflects on finding community when being with family isn’t a given.
COVID-19 Strips Safety Net for Foster Youth ‘Aging Out’ During Pandemic
January 15, 2021 | NWI
“Transition age” adolescents between 18 to 23 faced increased risk for homelessness, food insecurity, pregnancy, and incarceration even before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has exacerbated their risk.
Experiences and Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Diverse Youth in Foster Care
December 2, 2020 | NWI
This is the first survey to report on the proportion of youth in foster care in New York City who are LGBTQAI+ and differences in their experiences compared to those of youth who are not LGBTQAI+. This survey was commissioned by the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), which is committed to serving youth in foster care that are LGBTQAI+. This report provides the detailed findings from this survey.