Eliciting and Uplifting Youth Voice in Illinois Child Welfare Residential Care

Description

This study explores qualitative data capturing the strengths and challenges of residential care from the perspective of 512 youth in Illinois child welfare residential care in November 2018. Ninety percent of eligible youth participated in a Youth Experience of Care survey, with youth providing more negative than positive feedback about residential care.  Themes that emerged from youths' feedback, in descending order of frequency, included: programming, general feedback, relationships and connections, staff, material resources, empowerment and independence, and safety.  Youths' recommendations include enhancing recreational and community programming, providing opportunities to connect with family and peers (e.g., through visits and phone calls), investing in staff training and retention, teaching independent living skills, and partnering with youth when determining the kind and quantity of material resources needed (e.g., food and clothes).  Additionally, 40% of youths' responses aligned with principles of trauma-informed care, supporting the expansion of trauma-informed approaches in residential settings.  The high response rate yielded by this study, and the concrete, meaningful feedback youth provided to improve services further supports the inclusion of youth voice in quality improvement and research efforts.