Call for Artists
I am Latina/o/x
A virtual art exhibit examining Latina/o former foster youth’s cultural identity
IRB# 00007935
Submissions Closed: February 14, 2022
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About the Project
The purpose of the study is to examine if there is cultural resiliency amongst Latina/o/x Foster Youth, and if so, which aspects of culture persist through trauma, changes, and family assimilation.The study will be highlighting voices of Latina/o/x youth and the importance of displaying the counternarratives of their experiences in the foster youth system through art.
There are over 60,000 children are in foster care in California, and over half of this population are centrally located in Los Angeles County, with over 33,000 children. According to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA, 2020), “no individual or family should have to suffer inadequate or insufficient treatment due to language or cultural barriers.” It is a well-intended initiative, yet the funds are not helping the children, especially Latina/o/x Foster Youth, overcome their mental health challenges and use their cultural capital wisely.
Despite its best intentions, MHSA also seems to be based on a deficit thinking model using individual “language or cultural barriers” verbiage as the primary barriers to mental health access, as opposed to examining systemic barriers. I assert that culture and language, as forms of cultural capital, can be seen as strengths rather than barriers. This study will aim to discover which form of capital is at the core of Latina/o/x Foster Youth’s cultural resilience and which ones need strengthening. This may allow professionals to design more culturally sensitive programs amongst foster care agencies, mental health providers, and educational services to target Latina/o/x Foster Youth’s cultural well-bring.
By strengthening one’s social and cultural identity, one may increase positive self-esteem and decrease mental health difficulties, which would lead to a decrease in adverse outcomes (juvenile detention, hospitalization, and homelessness).
Most importantly, the study will be highlighting voices of Latina/o/x youth and the importance of displaying their counternarratives of their experiences in the foster youth system through art.
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