Date of Conferral

3-10-2026

Degree

Doctor of Human Services (D.H.S.)

School

Human Services

Advisor

Kelly Chermack

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore Dallas, Texas, human services professionals’ perceptions of the services that former foster youth need to ensure that they have access to medical and preventative care benefits when they age out of the system. The conceptual framework of Aday and Andersen’s health behavior model provided a structure for the lack of medical care access, the need for improvement, and the desire to use services for various marginalized at-risk populations. The action research design was chosen to help solve real-life healthcare problems that directly affect participants within their community. A purposeful sampling approach with open-ended semistructured interview questions from professional social workers and caseworkers was used to collect data. Using Clarke and Braun’s six-step data analysis design created a coding framework was created to help identify themes and patterns for this qualitative action research study. The resulting themes were focused on ideas like: communication is necessary, prioritization places value on how the youth's needs will be communicated and met, emotional support ensures that youth are heard, successive transition means resources are needed, helping youth with practical and relatable experiences will help create independent adults, support continuing education, and excessive caseloads are ongoing. The results of this study can positively influence how human service professionals help vulnerable populations and former foster care youth navigate the complex healthcare system to obtain their benefits. This type of accountability allows vulnerable populations and former foster care youth to live as healthy, productive citizens and lessens the burden on the healthcare system.

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