Power to Kids in Foster Care 

The aim of this research was to undertake a process and outcomes evaluation of the Power to Kids program in the context of home-based care.

The key evaluation question was: How does the Power to Kids program impact prevention of, and response to, harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence for children and young people in home-based care? 

Objectives included:

  • Explore impacts on the sexual health and safety knowledge of carers, case managers and children and young people; 
  • Identify changes in carer confidence to have Brave Conversations on sexual health and safety with children and young people; 
  • Examine case manager confidence in identifying HSB, CSE and DV; and
  •  Explore barriers and facilitators to the program; and outline implementation issues that emerged. 

Publications:

McKibbin, G., Bornemisza, A., Fried, A., Humphreys, C. & Gallois, E. (2022). Implementing the Power to Kids program in home‐based (foster) care: Identifying the SAFETY approach. Child & Family Social Work. 28(3), 612-621, doi:10.1111/cfs.12988 

Final Report https://www.mackillop.org.au/uploads/About-MacKillop/Publications/Research/Power-to-Kids_HBC_Evaluation-Report_Final_SMALL.pdf  

Researcher:   

Gemma McKibbin

Funding:

This project is funded by MacKillop Family Services.

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au