Mary Collins studies children’s lives after foster care
Mary Collins, associate professor of social welfare policy, examines lives of children after foster care.
Associate professor and social welfare policy and Director of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program at the School of Social Work, Mary Collins recently began a study that explores the experiences of foster care children who leave care at the age of 18. “Historically, there have been no services for this age group (18-22 years),” said Collins. “They’ve been in state care and then abruptly leave care at 18 with no support.”
Collins will collect data on the quantity and quality of transitional services the children received while in care, what has been achieved 1-2 years after they leave care, and what will be needed to improve the futures of these young adults. “By understanding the experiences of the young people, we have a real potential to develop services and supports for them in their young adult years,” said Collins.