Life Transitions International
contributions

Books
The Neglected Transition

Coming April 2026!

Academic Journal Articles (Featured)

Mitchell, M. B., Schuurman, D. L., Beam, M. R., & Martinez, J.  (2025). "We need a safe place to talk about how we feel": An evaluation of a peer grief support intervention for youth in foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 41, 15-32.

Mitchell, M. B. (2023). "To be ripped away from your family": Acknowledging and addressing the impact of loss, grief, and relational connection for youth in foster care. Family Justice Journal, Issue 001, 14-18.

Mitchell, M. B., Schuurman, D. L., Shapiro, C. J., Sattler, S., Sorensen, C., & Martinez, J. (2022). The L.Y.G.H.T. program: An evaluation of a peer grief support intervention for youth in foster care. Child and Adolescent Social Work https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00843-7

Mitchell, M. B. (2017). "No one acknowledged my loss and hurt": Non-death loss, grief, and trauma in foster care." Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. doi: 10.1007/s10560-017-0502-8

Mitchell, M. B. (2016). The family dance: Ambiguous loss, meaning-making, and the psychological family in foster care. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 8, 360-372. doi: 10.1111/jftr.12151

Mitchell, M. B. and Vann, L. H. (2016). Staying connected with youth in transition: “Thank you for not giving up on me” Journal of Social Work. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/1468017316654342

Mitchell, M. B., Jones, T., & Renema, S. (2015). Will I make it on my own? Voices and visions of 17-year-old youth in transition. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 32, 291-300.

Mitchell, M. B., Kuczynski, L., Tubbs, C. Y., & Ross, C. (2010). We care about care: Advice by children in care for children in care, foster parents, and child welfare workers about the transition into foster care. Child and Family Social Work, 15, 176-185.

Book Chapters

Chapter 10: Removal Standards & Reasonable Efforts

Church, C. E. & Mitchell, M. B. (2022). Chapter 10: Removal Standards & Reasonable Efforts. In J. Gupta-Kapgan, L. T. Adams, M. D. Carter, K. Pisani-Jacques, & V. Sankaran (Eds.), Child Welfare Law and Practice: Representing Children, Parents, and Agencies in Child Neglect, Abuse, and Dependency Cases (4th ed.), pp. 235-258, National Association of Counsel for Children.

Non-finite and cumulative loss in foster care

Mitchell, M. B. (2020). Non-finite and cumulative loss in foster care. In D. L. Harris (Ed.), Non-Death Loss and Grief: Context and Clinical Implications (pp. 147-156). Routledge.

Dialectics and transactional models: Conceptualizing antecedents, processes, and consequences of change in parent-child relationships

Kuczynski, L., Pitman, R., and Mitchell, M. B. (2009). Dialectics and transactional models: Conceptualizing antecedents, processes, and consequences of change in parent-child relationships. In J. A. Mancini & K. A. Roberto. (Eds.), Pathways of Development: Explorations of Change (pp.151-170). Lexington Books.

Call to Action
#UnderstandGrief and #GetGrief-Informed
Schuurman, D. L., & Mitchell, M. B. (2020). Becoming Grief-Informed: A Call to Action. Dougy Center: National Grief Center for Children & Families.

     Join the movement to #UnderstandGrief.  

#UnderstandGrief

Youth in foster care often report that their experiences of loss and grief go unacknowledged by the adults in their lives. We can change this narrative by not only supporting youth by learning grief-informed best practices but also by sharing resources with youth that promote personal agency and empowerment.

Make a commitment to better serve youth in foster care who are grieving. Learn what it means to be grief-informed, and put that understanding into action.

     Join the movement to #GetGrief-Informed.  

#GetGrief-Informed