The voices of youth in foster care: A participant action research study

Abstract

Utilizing participant action research methodology, five youth in foster care participated in the design and implementation of a pilot research study to collect data from 16 participants in foster care, highlighting their perspective of their strengths and experiences within the American foster care system. Participant action research (PAR) provides a pathway for youth in foster care to share their voice with those that influence policy and implement change in the very system that governs their lives. The participant researchers remained committed to the project for a year, creatively designed the research methodology, and contributed to the interpretation of the findings. Despite some potential validity and reliability issues, PAR methodology provided a positive framework for the voices of the participant researchers to be heard and for the voices of the participants to be interpreted by other youth in foster care.