Refocusing perspective: The healthography of youth transitioning out of foster care

Background Transient populations require unique approaches to addressing disparities due to healthography. In recent years, public health professionals have devoted much of their time to addressing the obesity epidemic, tobacco cessation and health disparities. Youth in foster care face disparities that affect overall health, and this population has received little attention in public health programs. The aim of this presentation is to draw the attention of public health professionals to this vulnerable population. Specific strategies to address these disparities will be discussed. Methods The Voices and Visions of Youth in Transition, a longitudinal transformative study, examines the experiences of youth in, or formerly in foster care at the ages of 17, 19, and 21. A youth-centered methodology examines critical areas related to public health such as education, homelessness, and high-risk behaviors. A mixed-method approach was used to attain an in-depth understanding of youth’s experiences. Results More than half of the participants (57%) did not have a high school diploma or GED and were unemployed (65%) at the age of 19. Since the age of 17, one in four youth had been homeless, one in five youth had been incarcerated, and one in ten female youth had given birth to a child. Qualitative findings will be presented on challenges faced by participants. Conclusions The current study provides an in-depth look into the experiences of 223 youth transitioning out of the foster care system. Recommendations will be made to enhance existing public health programs to better meet the needs of this transient population.