Date
7-31-2023
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)
Chair
J. David Judd
Keywords
residential care, trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive, outcomes, foster care, group homes, model of care, aging out
Disciplines
Leadership Studies
Recommended Citation
Davis, Ashley Nichole, "The Whole Child Initiative Model of Care For Those Aging Out of Residential Care" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4654.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4654
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate the type of relationship that exists between the implementation of The Whole Child Initiative model of care in the lives of individuals who have aged out of residential care and both the spiritual and developmental outcomes for these individuals. This study helps to determine if there is a relationship between the existence of the support of the Whole Child Initiative’s model of care for individuals who age out of residential care and their church attendance, use of private religious activities such as prayer or Bible study, experiences with the presence of God, faith as a foundation to life, and the involvement of religion in other areas of life as adults. Additionally, the research helps to determine if there is a relationship between the implementation of the Whole Child Initiative’s model of care for individuals who age out of residential and their ability to reach milestones, as defined by successful outcomes for adults. Current data on overall outcomes for youth who age out of residential care reveals that there is an enormous disparity between these youth and those who have never experienced residential care (Gutterswijk et al., 2020). Finally, this research investigates the type of relationship that exists between the implementation of the Whole Child Initiative model of care and the presence of delinquent behaviors in the lives of those who have transitioned into adulthood from residential care. This study was completed using a qualitative methodology which utilized open-ended, dichotomous, and Likert scale questions administered to a convenience sample of former residents of a residential care facility. All participants have transitioned into adulthood from residential care. Survey participant’s former caregivers were trained in the Whole Child Initiative’s model of care.
