By Krista Tillman, LAVIDGE Publicity
Dr. Lanetta N. Greer. Dr. Greer recently published her book, “Aged Out: Narratives of Young Women Who Grew Up in Out-of-Home Care.” This book presents a qualitative study of young women who grew up in out-of-home care (OHC).
In this study, Dr. Greer examines the feelings, knowledge, and behavior of former foster youth during three major points in their lives including family life (preplacement), growing up in out-of-home care (placement), and after aging out of the child welfare system and starting life on their own (postplacement).
Based upon her review of literature from The Black Administrators in Child Welfare (BACW), Dr. Greer found that over half of the children in foster care were children of color and further explained that 27 percent of those children were African American. She also discovered that according to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, African American children have a lower discharge and longer stays in OHC than white children.
Within Dr. Greer’s study, six of the eight women were African American, and one of the eight women was Korean and African American– representing the voices of women of color who grew up in the foster care system and insight into their real-life experiences. Dr. Greer found various similarities and differences from their experience.
Notably, some of the similarities included strong sibling bonds and their discussion of the importance of this, suffering and confusion due to being away from their family members at a young age, connecting with a family/feeling a sisterhood with other residents in various placement situations, unstable school placement, and more.
Dr. Greer has worked as a psychotherapist, school social worker, adjunct professor, facilitator and trainer. In October of 2007, Dr. Greer followed her passion for helping youth and started a nonprofit organization called Home 4 the Heart, Inc. This organization provides residential care to teenage girls in Milwaukee and has helped almost 200 girls in over 10 years. For two consecutive years, Home 4 the Heart, Inc. has been selected for the 2020 Best of Milwaukee Awards for Social Services Organization, and is now qualified for the Milwaukee Business Hall of Fame.
“Aged Out: Narratives of Young Women Who Grew Up in Out-of-Home Care”
By Dr. Lanetta N. Greer ISBN: 978-1-4808-7998-0 (softcover); 978-1-4808-7997-3 (hardcover)
Available at the Archway Publishing Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
