Objectives
Given the high level of stress, transition, and trauma experienced by many foster youth, this population is at risk for challenges with mental and physical health, educational attainment, and maintaining secure housing. There is a strong need for prevention and intervention programs for foster and adoptive youth, former foster young adults, and their families to promote emotional well-being. The Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS) model strengthens family functioning, reduces mental health symptoms in caregivers and children, and improves child social skills. This talk will explore the adaptation of FOCUS, an evidence-based, skill-building preventive intervention, for foster families and foster youth in college and provide clinical adaptations.
Methods
FOCUS was created to support family resilience during times of stress, transition, and loss. FOCUS has been adapted for use with foster families and young adults attending college who are in foster care or who have recently transitioned out of foster care.
Results
A clinical application of the FOCUS resilience-building model with foster youth and families will be presented. By using the core elements of FOCUS (the family assessment tool, psychoeducation, the five resilience skills, and the narrative timeline), FOCUS has been implemented with various groups, including foster families and youth. This talk will highlight how the family model has helped foster families communicate and appreciate one another’s experiences, understand the foster child’s reactions to stress, integrate developmentally appropriate ways to support a foster child, identify and reinforce family roles and customs, and establish clear routines and the importance of consistency in the lives of foster youth and young adults. The adaptation for college students was informed by feedback from students about their stressors as a foster youth or former foster youth in college. The program was implemented as a group skill-building workshop to promote social support and self-efficacy among former foster youth in college.
Conclusions
As a trauma-informed, evidence-based program, FOCUS is a manualized model that is flexible and can be used by clinicians to promote well-being among diverse populations. FOCUS has been successfully adapted to meet the unique needs of foster families and foster youth in college.