Participate in Foster TALES, a Research Study with Yale University

Thank you for your interest in the Foster TALES Study! TALES stands for Transitioning to Adult Life after Emancipation from the foster care System. My name is Brianna Jackson — I’m the lead researcher for this study and will be your main point of contact if you choose to participate. I’m a PhD student at Yale University in the United States, but I’m originally from Canada. I’m also a Registered Nurse who specializes in adolescent and young adult mental health.

For this research study, I’m looking for young adults who aged out of foster care in Canada, to better understand how the transition to independence after emancipation may influence mental health and wellbeing. The goal is to learn from participants’ experiences — both positive and negative — so that we can identify opportunities to help this population in the future.

This research is made possible by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. The study has two parts: an online survey and a virtual interview. The survey will have some questions about positive and negative life experiences, your current mental health, and personal growth over time. It’s expected to take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, but you can save your progress at any time, so you don’t have to do it all in one sitting.

Once you’ve submitted your survey, you’ll have the option to participate in a virtual one-to-one interview with me. We’ll do this over Zoom, so you can join the session from any location. I’ll ask you some questions about your time in foster care, the process of aging out, and any supports or resources that were available to you. This should take about 45-60 minutes, but we can take breaks whenever you’d like.

As a thank you for your time, you’ll receive a $30 gift card once you’ve submitted the online survey, and another $30 gift card after you’ve finished the interview. That’s a total of $60 if you choose to complete both activities.

In order to participate, you must meet some specific eligibility criteria:

• Can you read, write, and speak English fluently?

• Are you between the ages of 18 and 25?

• Were you a permanent or Crown ward in Canada?

• Did you age out of foster care when you reached the age limit for your province/territory?  

• Have you continued to live in Canada since aging out?

• Do you have access to an electronic device that connects to the internet and has a video camera? (e.g. smart phone, tablet, computer)

• Are you comfortable with your interview being audio-recorded and transcribed?

If you answered ‘yes’ to all seven questions, then you’re a perfect fit! If you answered ‘no’ or are unsure about any of these questions, but would still like to participate, please reach out to me to discuss your eligibility. To participate in this study, or to learn more about Foster TALES, please text or call me at 203-535-7207 or send an email to brianna.jackson@yale.edu.

Thank you so much for your consideration!