The lives of BC youth with government care experience

 A profile of BC youth with government care experience  Fostering protective factors among youth with government care experience  Youth’s suggestions  Key findings

 Administration took place in Grade 7-12 classes in 50 of the 59 BC School Districts.  Over 29, 000 surveys were collected in 1,760 classrooms between February and June  1,000 youth had been in care “I enjoy taking these surveys. More should be done with them.” BC youth in care

Fostering Potential

Ethnic or Cultural Heritage^ European40% Aboriginal35% East Asian16% Latin/South/Central American7% African7% Southeast Asian6% South Asian4% West Asian3% Australian3% ^Among youth with experience of government care.

Whom youth live with most of the time No care experience Previous care experience Recent care experience Mother91% 59%35% Stepmother2% 8%5% Father68% 36%22% Stepfather5% 11%5% Other adults in family†8% 16%14% Other adults not in family2% 10%34% No adults1% 6%16% †Indicates that the difference between previous and recent care experience was not statistically significant.

What youth ate of drank yesterday^ NoYes, onceYes, twice or more Water15%23%62% Pop/soda44%36%20% Fruit29%40%31% Green salad or vegetables 34%41%25% Dairy products21%40%39% Energy drinks71%15%14% Cookies or other sweets 36%44%20% Pizza, hot dogs, etc.44%35%21% Coffee based drinks60%22%19% ^Among youth with experience of government care.

Fostering Potential

^Among youth with recent care experience.

 Males ◦ Protective  School connectedness ◦ Risk  Unstable home  Skipping school  Regular marijuana use  Females  Protective  School connectedness  Meaningful activities  Pro-social friends  Risk  Poverty  Regular marijuana use

 Target supports at struggling families  Keep children and youth in their community  Make foster placements longer and as much like family life as they can be  Offer more school based support  Ensure every youth has a supportive adult

 Most youth who had been in care reported positive health.  Youth who have been in care recently are facing a number of challenges.  Being engaged and valued in activities was associated with better mental and physical health.

 Having a stable home was linked to improved health outcomes.  Even moving one less time over the course of the year was associated with better health.  Youth with a healthy lifestyle were more likely to report positive school indicators.  Sports involvement, supportive adults and post- secondary aspirations were all linked to better general health.

 Supportive peers and adults was linked to improved mental and physical health.  Social workers can be a particularly important source of support for youth in care.  Peers play an important role in supporting their friends and in health promotion.  16% of youth in care in the past year were living without any adults.

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