Authentically engaging youth with foster care experience: definitions and recommended strategies from youth and staff

Abstract

Child welfare service providers in the United States are increasingly acknowledging the importance of engaging youth with foster care experience in case planning, policy advocacy, and practice change. However, evidence for how to do this well is still quite limited. This study aims to answer two research questions: a) How do youth and staff/professionals define/conceptualize authentic youth engagement (AYE)? and b) What are youths’ and staff/professionals’ recommended strategies for authentically engaging youth? Thirty stakeholder interviews (15 youth, 15 staff/professionals) and 81 surveys (46 youth, 35 staff/professionals) were completed. Four themes emerged regarding conceptualizations of authentic youth engagement, while three themes emerged regarding recommendations for authentically engaging youth. These perspectives offer valuable insight into overcoming barriers related to authentically engaging youth in service provision, policy, and practice.