Date of Conferral

11-5-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Raj Singh

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened challenges for young adults transitioning from foster care to independence. Research shows that foster care alumni faced barriers in education, employment, housing, and health due to limited support networks. Yet, little is known about how emergency policies, such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, affected them. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of foster care alumni who received financial aid through the Act. The research question: What were the experiences and perceptions of foster care alumni (aged 18-26) who received funds via the CAA of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic? Guided by Glaser and Strauss’s (1967) grounded theory, data from 13 semi-structured virtual interviews were coded and analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s (1990) open, axial, and selective coding methods. The findings showed that the CAA provided crucial short-term financial stability, supporting housing, transportation, education, and family needs. Participants valued this assistance but expressed a need for continued funding, stronger caseworker engagement, and better awareness of resources. The study confirmed existing literature on the vulnerabilities of foster care alumni and extended understanding of how targeted policy interventions can buffer economic hardship. Implications for social change include reducing homelessness, improving economic stability, and promoting equity and self-sufficiency among former foster youth through sustained, evidence-based policy reform.

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