Predictors of Young People’s Satisfaction with Foster Care over Time

Background/Purpose

Few studies have assessed satisfaction with foster care using representative samples of transition-age youth leaving foster care (TAY), and even fewer have collected longitudinal data tracking changes in satisfaction over time (Courtney et al., 2014; Courtney et al., 2009; Taussig & Munson, 2022; White et al., 2012). This study provides the first multivariate analysis of youth- and system-level predictors of TAY satisfaction with foster care at multiple points in the transition to adulthood.

Methods

Study data come from CalYOUTH, a longitudinal study that followed a statewide representative sample of TAY in California. The sample consisted of youth who participated in the survey at ages 17 (Wave 1; n = 727), 21 (Wave 3; n = 616), and 23 (Wave 4; n = 622). Foster care satisfaction was measured using two items rated on a 7-point scale (“strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”) asking about respondents’ (1) satisfaction with their foster care experience and (2) their luck in being placed in care. Scores were averaged (alphas: age 17=.69; age 21=.78; age 23=.73). OLS regression models at each age examined correlates of foster care satisfaction, including youth characteristics (e.g., gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation), placement histories (e.g., kinship care, congregate care), and TAY’s perceptions of the service context (e.g., frequency of social worker contact, satisfaction with independent living services and training). Survey weights were used to account for the study design, and missing data were addressed using multiple imputation.

Results

Overall, at ages 17, 21, and 23, over half the sample reported being satisfied with their foster care experience, while less than a quarter were dissatisfied. Baseline predictors associated with lower satisfaction at two or more ages were the number of foster care placements per year in care (ages 21 and 23) and a history of placement in kinship care (ages 17 and 21). Other covariates associated with lower satisfaction included having a living child (age 17), having been placed in group care (age 17), agreeableness (age 21), having missed school due to foster care (age 21), and being multiracial (age 23). Being enrolled in school was associated with lower satisfaction at age 17 and higher satisfaction at age 23. Satisfaction with independent living services and training, and the amount of help the system provided to connect TAY with kin, were associated with higher satisfaction at all ages. The number of social worker visits in the past year at baseline was positively associated with satisfaction at age 21. The number of individuals TAY nominated as a source of emotional support was associated with higher satisfaction at ages 21 and 23.

Conclusion/Implications

While most TAY view their experiences in foster care positively into early adulthood, our longitudinal analyses of predictors of satisfaction suggest that efforts to reduce placement instability, increase TAY’s connections to independent living services and training, and help youth maintain and strengthen connections to kin networks have the potential to improve satisfaction with foster care. The National Youth in Transition Database should include questions about satisfaction with foster care.