Support systems, challenges and adjustment strategies: A study of University of Cape Coast students from foster homes

Abstract

The study explored the support systems available for foster youth in the University of Cape Coast, the challenges they encounter, and the adjustment strategies they use to overcome their challenges. The study was qualitative research which adopted the phenomenological research design. The exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling technique was used to sample 18 participants for the study. These participants included four current foster youth and 14 former foster youth who were pursuing undergraduate programmes in the University of Cape Coast. Researcher developed interview guide items were used to gather data for the study. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and thematic analysis approach were used to analyse the data that were gathered. The study found that there were no support systems in the University of Cape Coast that were meant for only foster youth, however, general support systems such as counselling services, students’ loan, scholarship for brilliant students, extracurricular activities, and support from university staff and religious organisations existed. The foster youth faced financial, academic, emotional and psychological challenges. They endeavoured solving these challenges through self-determination, counselling, engaging in minor jobs, perching and reducing transportation expenses to lecture halls. It was recommended that policy makers in the university create support systems specifically meant to address the needs of foster youth in the university. Again, administrators, counselors and lecturers in the university should establish an individualised comprehensive approach to offer the needed emotional, psychological and material support to deal with the problems foster youth encounter.