Toward a Defined Role for Occupational Therapy in Foster Care Transition Programming.

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Youth aging out of foster care experience trauma, relationship instability, and placement disruptions, leading to poor outcomes.
• Existing support systems lack collaborative, individualized, and evidence-based approaches for this demographic.
• Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to address the complex needs of transitioning foster youth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature and propose a framework for occupational therapy integration for youth aging out of foster care.
• To identify emerging roles for occupational therapists in supporting this population.
• To establish a direction for evidence-based occupational therapy interventions using the PEOP model.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• A preliminary mixed-methods study informed the proposed occupational therapy framework.
• The Person Environment Occupation Performance (PEOP) model was utilized as a guiding structure.

Main Results:

• The literature review confirmed overall poor outcomes for youth aging out of foster care.
• A need for collaborative, individualized, and evidence-based interventions was identified.
• Specific occupational therapy interventions, both novel and enhancements to existing programs, were suggested.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapy offers a promising, structured approach to support youth aging out of foster care.
• The PEOP model provides a robust framework for developing targeted interventions.
• Further research and implementation of occupational therapy services are recommended to improve independent living outcomes.