"Family" Ties for Foster Alumni in College: An Open Systems Consideration

This exploratory, qualitative, multi-case study sought to understand, from the perspective of successful foster alumni college students, the role and influence of family members. Sampling was purposeful; criteria required participants were in out-of-home placement at age 13 or older. Participants included eight successful, self-identified foster alumni students. Five themes emerged as key in shaping participants' success: unique definitions of family, boundary redefinition, historical family influencers, boundary management, and social media as a boundary management tool. Overall, findings revealed that traditional processes need to be reviewed and reconsidered in light of the wide variety of non-traditional supports upon which students depended.