Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Appiah-Kubi, Jamal

Abstract

Transition-age foster youth face significant barriers to higher education and stable employment, increasing their risk of housing instability, unemployment, and long-term economic hardship. Independent living programs (ILPs) aim to support the youth develop life skills and connect them to resources that prepare them for a successful transition into adulthood, however, there is limited research that explores the youth’s perspective on the effectiveness of ILPs. This study seeks to provide insight by interviewing current and former foster youth who participated in an ILP by conducting combined research, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data will be collected through a Likert-scale questionnaire assessing preparedness for college and job readiness. This will be followed by a qualitative open-ended interview focused on youth experiences and perspectives on ILPs. The sample will consist of 150 transition-age foster youth between the ages of 16 and 21 from California who have participated in an ILP collected with simple random sampling. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis. Qualitative data will be analyzed using a thematic approach using a structured codebook. The results will inform policymakers and stakeholders on the importance of program development focused on improved educational and employment outcomes for the youth.

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