Youth in Foster Care Relationships with Biological, Foster, and Adoptive Families

Youth in Foster Care Relationships with Biological, Foster, and Adoptive Families: Youth in foster care are atrisk for negative outcomes once they exit the child welfare system. Proponents of resilience theory posit that the number one predictor of a resilient person is having an adult/someone who is there for them. For youth in foster care who are removed from their biological family and potentially their siblings, placed in a home with an unknown family, or adopted into another family, relationship stability is not guaranteed. As a result of the myriad family settings and relationships these youth may experience, it is important to understand the complexity of these relationships. This chapter will summarize existing literature regarding youth’s relationships with their biological families, foster families, and adoptive families. Emphasis will be placed on studies conducted from the youth’s perspective in an effort to strengthen their voice and highlight themes across studies. Implications for practice and policy will be discussed.