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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Child Youth Serv Rev. 2016 Dec 7;73:173–181. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.12.002

Table 1. Question-based rubric for understanding the social context of youth in foster care.

Network Dimensions Socioecological Questions
Composition

  • Does the proximal network include parents and/or parent figures?

  • Does the proximal network include natural mentors and other supportive adults?

  • Does the proximal network include supportive peers?
Structure

  • Is the proximal network family-based (or family-like), in terms of established and interconnected relationships between youth and a core group of adults and peers?

  • Is the proximal network large enough to monitor and support the youth's needs while in foster placement?

  • Are people connected across ecological contexts (e.g., foster caregivers and biological parents, caregivers and school staff, caseworkers and school staff)?
Relationship Characteristics

  • Do youth report high quality relationships with parents and/or parent figures?

  • Do youth report high quality relationships with other supportive adults (e.g., caseworker, teacher, mentor, coach)?

  • Do youth report high quality relationships with other youth (e.g., siblings, peers)?