Foster Care Research Group
The Foster Care Research Group (FCRG) studies the well-being of current and former foster youth. Partnered with client-serving organizations such as A Home Within, students from both the Psychology Department (College of Arts and Sciences) and the Clinical Psychology PsyD Program (School of Nursing and Health Professions), under the supervision of USF faculty, research best practices in mental health prevention and intervention.
Current Projects
A Home Within Evaluation
Since 2000, FCRG has evaluated therapist reports of long-term, pro bono mental health interventions with foster youth provided through A Home Within. This national nonprofit works to mitigate barriers to therapy by providing free services for as long as it takes with licensed clinicians. Evaluation began in 2002 with interviews of therapists about perceived changes over time and identifying benefits to infants, children, adolescents, and adults. In 2019, FCRG began collecting longitudinal data from clients with ongoing data analyses currently underway. In 2024, FCRG launched a randomized controlled trial comparing A Home Within therapy with peer support group therapy. The most recent publication from this project is:
Child Welfare Stakeholder Evaluation
In partnership with A Home Within and Dr. Deanna Linville at the University of Oregon and Center for Transformative Healing, this funded community-based participatory project examines the experiences of key stakeholders in foster care to understand barriers to, and experiences with, mental health services. Using interviews and focus groups, the research team studies best practices in building therapeutic alliances, identifying goals for treatment, and co-creating research with stakeholders in foster care. Sample publications include:
- “Resilience,” as Defined by Foster Youth and Key Stakeholders
- Ingredients of successful therapeutic relationships with foster youth according to key stakeholders in child welfare: A grounded theory analysis
Foster Youth Perspectives
The Child Welfare Stakeholder Evaluation builds on a longstanding commitment to learning from and working with the stakeholder community. One example includes:
The Impact of COVID-19
FCRG paused research projects in the initial months of the pandemic to, in partnership with Dr. Linville, learn about reported needs amongst transition-aged foster youth and foster youth in college. Examples include:
FCRG continues to build and develop research projects in partnership with our Community Advisory Board, Research Advisory Team, and community partnerships. Please reach out to the FCRG team with any questions.
Saralyn Ruff, PhD, Director, sruff2@usfca.edu
June Madsen Clausen, PhD, Founder and Collaborating Investigator, clausenj@usfca.edu
Reinier Bautista, BA, Research Project Coordinator, reinier@ahomewithin.org