Content area
This dissertation focuses on developing a transitional care program that incorporates concepts of belongingness and nurturing for youth aging out of foster care. Previous research indicates that current programs lack activities for psychosocial skills practice and opportunities for exercising supportive autonomy. As a result, these youth struggle to integrate into their communities and fail to achieve sustainable human capital goals. Without opportunities to model adaptability, problem-solving, commitment, self-regulation, and self-compassion, emancipated youth will struggle to survive and will be unable to conceptualize how to thrive. In this proposed six-module training, the researcher identifies Judeo-Christian non-profits as facilitators of connectedness and social legitimacy for displaced youth, fulfilling the biblical mandate to protect and defend the fatherless, foreigner, widow, and orphan. Topics include adjustment, resilience, trust, relatedness, competence, community engagement, self-identity, and self-efficacy. Additionally, this manuscript outlines suggestions for future research and adaptations to the training curriculum.