Resilience Among Children in Child Welfare, Corrections, Mental Health and Educational Settings: Recommendations for Service

Abstract

What are at-risk and resilient children's patterns of service utilization across Child Welfare, Corrections, Mental Health and Educational settings? And how do systems constrain the capacities of children to access the health resources they need to sustain and nurture resilience? This paper examines how children exercise personal agency in their navigation between service delivery systems and explores their negotiation for health resources from these systems. Drawing on the literature with high-risk youth in each of these four settings, and my own research, six principles are identified that underlie better service provision that builds resilience in at-risk children and youth.