Fellowship for Casey Vazquez: APA Junior Scientist Fellowship

Children in the child welfare system and foster care alumni are at greater risk for a myriad of health disparities. These young people often have been the victims of abuse and have no stable adult caregivers to provide consistency in their lives. As such, developing healthy social relationships and learning about their own sexuality and sexual health is lacking. I am interested in the factors which exacerbate, and buffer, negative sexual health and social relationship outcomes among children, adolescents, and young adults whom are currently, or have previously, been associated with the child welfare system or have been adopted.