As many as three-quarters of the nearly 25,000 American youth in residential care have experienced significant trauma, including maltreatment, poverty and, for many, systemic racism and discrimination.
Research suggests that such trauma increases risk for mental and behavioral health problems. However, some youth in residential care with trauma still display steadfast resilience, functioning well even in the presence of significant risk.
But it is unclear whether resilience — a dynamic process of adjusting successfully to stress and adversity — is structured and functions the same for youth in residential care as it does for similar youth in the general community.
Alex Mason, professor of child, youth and family studies, and CYFS, is collaborating with Boys Town in Omaha to better understand the nature of resilience, and which characteristics matter most for vulnerable youth in residential care. Research team members include Kristin Duppong Hurley and Patrick Tyler — two longtime partners at Boys Town’s Child and Family Translational Research Center.
Mason said the project aims to pinpoint what resilience looks like for youth entering residential care, and to determine whether resilience helps protect them from substance use and mental illness, despite their backgrounds of trauma.
“When someone ends up in residential care, he or she is obviously struggling with something such as conduct problems or substance use,” he said. “But that doesn’t singularly define the individual. Often, they are thriving in other areas of life. Maybe they’re very social and caring or do great in school despite the challenges.”
Researchers are examining existing data to develop more effective ways to help traumatized youth in residential care and put them back on track to reach their full potential as healthy, productive members of society.
With funding from the Boys Town, researchers are analyzing clinical data collected since 2022 on about 900 youth, aged 11-18, who resided in the Boys Town Family Home Program — a residential care program that serves boys and girls who have been removed from their home due to conduct problems and other difficulties.
Using data collected at intake and at frequent check-ins during care, researchers are working to identify characteristics among youth that can inform targeted resources and intervention strategies. These insights will help ensure youth in residential care receive the unique supports they need to recover from challenges and achieve positive life outcomes.
“We want to make a deep dive into resilience and tailor the care at Boys Town — and ultimately, at other facilities — to youths’ strengths and help them work on other areas that aren’t as strong,” Mason said. “We need a richer picture of the concept of resilience in kids.”
Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.