Dr. Yafit Sulimani-Aidan
Senior Lecturer
Head, B.A studies
Bob Shapell School of Social Work
Tel Aviv University
HAPPY TO SHARE...
Please click "Read" to see all of my publications in the research areas listed above. For full text feel free to contact me via email.
Risk and Resilience in transition to adulthood among at-risk youth in public care and in the community
Emerging adulthood is considered a risky and vulnerable period for care leavers and other groups of at-risk young adults in the community as it requires coping with complex instrumental and developmental tasks with little or no parental support, guidance, or monitoring. At the same time, research suggests that resilience can appear during and following emerging adulthood, and that this period may provide a window of opportunity to employ interventions that promote positive change.
Future Orientation & Expectations for the future of at -risk youth and young adults
Earlier international studies of at-risk youth marked mentoring relationships as the most significant relationships with non-parental figures and as a protective factor against a wide range of negative outcomes. However, this aspect has been overlooked among youth in care and care leavers in Israel, and my research has filled this theoretical gap.
Mentoring relationships: Challenges and contributions
Mentors are supportive adult figures who are significant to the mentees, and such mentor/mentee relationships are considered among the most significant relationships that this vulnerable youth develop. Mentoring relationships have been found to be associated with many positive outcomes including improvements in the mentee’s social and emotional development, enhanced cognitive development, and positive identity development (Ahrens et al., 2008; Munson & McMillen, 2009; Muson et al., 2010; Rhodes, 2005). However, researchers still wish to learn more about these unique relationships among at risk young adults and care leavers in particular. For example, more information is needed regarding the way mentoring operates, its influence on the lives of care leavers, and how meaningful and promotive mentoring relationships can be established between care leavers and mentors through structured programs. I explore these aspects and more in my studies
Experiences, perspectives, and challenges of case workers and mentors of at-risk young adults
The area of at-risk young adults in Israel in terms of research and policy is new and evolving. Therefore, further knowledge is needed regarding the interventions, professional role, and challenges of young adults’ caseworkers as a new and evolving professional position. Also, the substantial literature on mentoring relationships concentrates mainly on mentoring children and adolescents rather than emerging adults. Therefore, in order to expand knowledge regarding risk and resilience among at-risk young adults during the transition to adulthood, in my third domain of research I explore the experiences, needs and challenges of formal and informal supportive figures of at-risk young adults