Project Overview

Welfare Services (CWS), many of these youth experience periods of homelessness and other related forms of vulnerability. Few studies, however, have followed a large cohort of young people through the transition from CWS to identify the psychological, institutional, social, educational and political/policy aspects of young people’s lives that put them at risk of homelessness and those that enhance their resilience, including housing stability and engagement in school or work. This research will use multiple methods to engage youth with both child welfare and homelessness experience. Along with a cohort of youth engaged as co-researchers through participatory methods, we will randomly sample Nova Scotian 14-18-year-olds currently involved with all forms of CWS (in care and family supports) and follow them for three years using quantitative surveys. A subsample of these youth will also be invited to participate in qualitative interviews and CWS file reviews. Throughout, there will be opportunities for knowledge mobilization that builds on young people’s networks and those of our service provider and policy co-leads. This study will be a pilot for possible replication in other provinces and territories.