An Examination of Foster Youth Socialization to Dating and Sexual Behaviors

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects, 2017

Rhoda Smith, PhD, MSW

Suggested Citation
Smith, R. (2017) An Examination of Foster Youth Socialization to Dating and Sexual Behaviors. Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 468. (http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/46)

Conclusions
Eight themes -Vulnerability and Decision Making; Resources and Access; Adolescence: Between Two Worlds; Collaboration, Liability and Risk; Foster Care Experience; Independent Living Programming; Sexual Socialization Practices and Relationship – emerged from the data and highlight the processes of communication which occur to facilitate this aspect of socialization for foster youth. This study found that communication processes for social workers, foster parents and foster alumni were hampered by systemic issues, usually not mandated by policy and occurs mostly in response to unwanted behavior, questions or directives.