Understanding the Social Service Needs of Transitional Age Youth (TAY) aging out of the Foster Care System. - YEDI Affiliated Project
Kristina Lovato, Professor
Social Welfare
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2023 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2024.
My research focuses on enhancing Latinx child and family wellbeing, particularly among immigrant families at risk of immigration enforcement and public child welfare involvement. Specifically, my work expands our understanding of the impact that immigration policies have on the psychosocial wellbeing and trajectories of Latinx immigrant transitional age youth (TAY) who are between 18-21 years old and their experiences accessing social safety net programs. This community-engaged mixed methods study will involve analyzing administrative descriptive data on social safety net services utilized by child welfare involved TAY immigrant youth via UC Berkeley’s Child Welfare Indicators Project (CCWIP), a collaborative venture between the University of California at Berkeley and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
Our research team will also conduct semi-structured interviews with public child welfare workers (n=30), mental health, legal services, professionals and/or school based providers (n=30), and transitional age immigrant child welfare-involved youth (n=30) to better understand where our existing system of social welfare supports is serving these youth, and where it is not. We will document the innovative ways youth are working around the gaps in the system’s safety net, with particular attention whether or not these youth find ways to access social and economic mobility. We will share research findings with community stakeholders via peer-reviewed publications, webinars, presentations, and open access journals to inform policies as well as social service programs, both of which could advance equity and inclusion for working-class youth in California’s public institutions.
Role: *During Fall of 2023, the research apprentice will assist the research team by: 1) writing a 3-6 page literature review in which they will explore how how immigrant foster youth navigate the transition to adulthood and access support along the way via social service programs, academic mental health support and develop their own social networks; 2) The apprentice may also assist with data collection which would involve interviewing social service and immigrant transitional age foster youth to gain a better understanding of their experiences navigating social services and supports as they transition to adulthood.
*The research apprentice should possess strong writing skills, the ability to examine related literature, be responsible with deadlines, possess a strong academic record, and enjoy working with a research team in which they will receive mentorship. Weekly Hours: 3-5 Hours/ Off Campus Research Site: Bi-Weekly meetings will occur via Zoom or in-person. Day to day supervisor for this project: Dr. Kristina Lovato
Qualifications:
**If you are selected for this research project, you will be given the opportunity to join the Youth Equity Discovery Initiative (YEDI) program. YEDI is a research apprenticeship and mentorship program that supplements your URAP research work with weekly workshops in both Fall and Spring semesters. YEDI creates a cohort of undergraduate scholars (usually around 20-30, many from underrepresented backgrounds) that are working on youth equity research projects, such as this one. The year-long program utilizes cascading mentorship, skill-building workshops, and professional development to provide supportive pathways into research careers, service, and leadership addressing adolescent inequities and well-being. Scholars greatly benefit from (and enjoy!) the extra training and support, as well as the professional development opportunities (including faculty guest speakers, graduate student and practitioner panels). The program culminates in a research symposium presentation at the end of the program. The 2023-2024 YEDI cohort will meet on Tuesdays from 11am - 12:30pm beginning September 19th. In order to take part in the YEDI program, you MUST be able to attend the workshops at this time. As a YEDI scholar, you will sign up for a PH198 class and receive 1 unit. This is in addition to the units you receive for your URAP research project. For any questions about YEDI, please contact Marieka Schotland at mschotland@berkeley.edu or visit our website: https://i4y.berkeley.edu/youth-equity-discovery-initiative-yedi-program
Hours: 3-5 hrs
Related website: http://https://socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/people/kristina-lovato-0
Social Sciences