title: Exploring spirituality among youth in foster care: findings from the Casey Field Office Mental Health Study.
abstract: This study examined spiritual coping mechanisms, beliefs about spirituality and participation in spiritual activities and in other positive activities among adolescents in foster care. A multidimensional measure of spirituality was developed for face-to-face interviews with 188 youth (ages 14-17) from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds in the United States. Findings revealed 95% of youth believe in God, over 70% believe God is 'creator' and God is 'love', and 79% considered prayer a spiritual practice. Most youth said love and forgiveness help them heal. Two-thirds (67%) reported responding to 'bad or tragic things happening' by spending time alone, and over half responded by praying (59%) or sharing the problem with someone else (56%). Youth's top three spiritual goals were to follow God's plan for them, become a better person, and know their purpose in life. Based on the value youth ascribed to spiritual coping mechanisms, recommendations for policy and practice focus on the integration of spirituality into practice and caregiving for youth in foster care.
authors: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors: Lovie J
authors: LJ
authors: Jackson
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA.
authors: Catherine Roller
authors: CR
authors: White
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA.
authors: Kirk
authors: K
authors: O'Brien
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: DiLorenzo
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA.
authors: Ernie
authors: E
authors: Cathcart
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA.
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Wolf
authors: Pacific Northwest Alumni of Foster Care, Tacoma, WA.
authors: Delilah
authors: D
authors: Bruskas
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA ; University of Washington School of Social Work, Seattle, WA.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Pecora
authors: Eastern University School for Social Change, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Vivian
authors: V
authors: Nix-Early
authors: Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Cabrera
keywords: adolescence; child welfare; foster care; foster care (family); prevention