Paths to Self-Sufficiency for Youth Served Through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Foster Care Program in the United States

Self-sufficiency is a concept commonly used to explore well-being and success of adult refugees. Yet, this has not been widely applied the integration young refugees immigrants who arrive United States unaccompanied enter foster care. Therefore, study meets gap in literature by investigating self-sufficiency for have recently discharged from Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) care program US. We analyze an administrative dataset client outcomes (n = 417) collected at discharge URM Lutheran Immigration Service’s network programs across States. This uses path analysis model examine direct paths between outcome variable: series predictor variables including educational attainment, English proficiency level, employment. Another hypothesis was that length time spent will indirectly influence through improved attainment. Lastly, we posited country origin attainment level. Findings show positive relationships employment self-sufficiency; greater self-sufficiency. Additionally, increased months positively both Results suggest service providers should consider education, employment, language development their casework with URMs ensure best chances as they adulthood. limitations illuminate specific ways which agency could improve data collection procedures, future research.