Professionals’ perceptions medication use within the adolescents foster care system population

When adolescents enter into the foster care system they are predisposed to higher rates of mental health issues. It is important that this population receive services for their mental health. This study used a constructivist grounded theory to collect data and analyze the perceptions of professionals on the utilization of medication use as a form of treatment for this population. A model was constructed to show the overall experiences professionals had while working with the adolescent foster care population. This study found that professionals see a lack of resources in regards to proper training, availability of therapeutic services, and consistency between provided services. This lack of resources is what participants found to be the reason for a higher emphasis on medication utilizing within the adolescent foster care population. This model contains useful information in regards to current treatment gaps as well as suggested improvements based on participant responses.