Degree Date

6-2023

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Academic Discipline

Counselor Education and Supervision

First Advisor

Tremaine Leslie, Ph.D., LPC, NCC

Second Advisor

Tara Bryant-Edwards, Ph.D., LCPC

Abstract

Transitional Aged Youth (TAYs) are young adults between 18-24 who have recently aged out of the foster care system and are now a part of the Extended Foster Care system (EFC). Unfortunately, this population is not guaranteed familial or social support. They have to rely on basic knowledge and skills obtained while in the foster care system to help with navigate their world. Most TAYs end up homeless, unemployed, and incarcerated. There is also a high pregnancy rate among TAYs. Due to the limited assistance they receive upon entering EFC, they are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health challenges compared to other young adult populations. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of a PersonCentered Mentorship Intervention that provided more knowledge of life skills and strategies to help TAYs increase their emotional regulation. The approach utilized in the study was to have TAYs participate in a Person-Centered Mentorship Group for six weeks, using a Single-case research design. Two participants took the Independent Living Life Skills Assessment (ILSS) and The Depression Anxiety Stress Survey (DASS-21) a total of nine times, three times before and six times throughout the study. The study answered the following research question, 1) does knowledge of transitional life skills affect emotional regulation in young adults who have aged out of the foster care system? and 2) What are the differences in the participants' self-report of transitional life skills and emotional regulation baseline to week six of the study? This study's findings indicated a statistically significant difference between the participants' self-reported transitional life skills and emotional regulation from the baseline to week 6 of the study.

Comments

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to express my most profound appreciation to my chair, Dr. Tremaine Leslie, who not only provided constructive criticism and feedback but also provided guidance throughout my dissertation journey that I needed to get me where I am today. To Dr. Tara Bryant-Edwards, thank you for stepping in at a crucial point in my journey and for helping with my dissertation process. I am also grateful to my study participants for their continued dedication to engage in my weekly intervention to provide me with the data needed to complete my research study. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my family, especially my husband, parents, and son. To my Husband, Owen Headley, I would like to thank you for all the entertainment and emotional support. To my parents, Brenda Biggs, and Jessie Roberts, thank you for believing in me and providing me with the motivation I needed during this process. Awen Headley, my newborn son, was born two months before I became a doctor. Awen, I did this for you.

View Full Text

Share

COinS