Young People Leaving State Care Research Articles

Understanding how young people transitioning from out-of-home care acquire and develop independent living skills and knowledge: A systematic review of longitudinal studies.

Young people leaving state care often experience hardship in many areas of their life. At a population level, their outcomes in early adulthood are poorer compared to general populations. Effective preparation for leaving care and post-care support systems is vital to improving outcomes. Individual and systemic support for young people to acquire Independent Living Skills (ILS) in the following eight ILS domains have been identified: Financial Management, Knowledge of Accessing Available Supports, Managing Housing, Education Planning, Job Seeking, Health Risk Management, Domestic and Self-help Task, and Managing Relationships. This systematic review aims to identify, summarise, and appraise longitudinal studies that address ILS across these ILS domains to understand better how outcomes could be improved. Seven databases (CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest, PsychINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched on 20th July 2023. In total, twenty-seven studies published between 1994 and 2022 from various countries met the eligibility criteria. The included studies reported on 2-4 waves and adopted different methodological approaches. Study quality was scored using Qualsyst. Study characteristics and details of the interventions are presented in tables. Studies cover overlapping ILS domains, which are mapped in a matrix. Results revealed that nearly three-quarters (74% or 20 out of 27) of studies explored four or fewer of the eight ILS domains. The most frequent ILS domain covered was 'Knowledge of Accessing Available Supports' (19/27 studies). The main conclusion considers the concept of independence as a misnomer, with ILS covering multiple, intersecting, and interdependent domains, which ultimately help and hinder one another. Further research is required to adopt a more comprehensive approach encompassing all the domains to better inform policy, programs, and practice. A limitation is that a meta-analysis was not conducted for this review. This study registered a 'Protocol' with OSF Registries (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/MJ3ZX) on June 5th, 2022.

‘It’s Been a Massive Struggle’: Exploring the Experiences of Young People Leaving Care During COVID-19

This article explores the experiences of young people leaving state care during COVID-19. Twenty-one young people, predominantly from Wales, engaged in semi-structured interviews and/or contributed poems and artwork conveying their experiences of the pandemic. The data generated offered insights into young people’s daily lives, including their routines and relationships, as well as access to resources and services. The study found stark disparity in young people’s experiences, with some reassured by support responses, and others feeling neglected and forgotten. As an already disadvantaged group, the challenges presented by COVID-19 further hinder young people’s transitions to adulthood. The ‘massive struggles’ faced by some young people reflect immediate difficulties which also have the potential for longer-term impacts. The recommendations of the study, informed by care-experienced young people, seek to positively influence policy and practice.

Young People Leaving State Care in China, by Xiaoyuan Shang and Karen R. Fisher. Bristol: Policy Press, 2017. iii+266 pp. £80.00 (cloth).

<i>Young People Leaving State Care in China</i>, by Xiaoyuan Shang and Karen R. Fisher. Bristol: Policy Press, 2017. iii+266 pp. £80.00 (cloth).

Review of &lt;i&gt;Young People Leaving State Care in China&lt;/i&gt;. Xiaoyuan Shang and Karen R. Fisher. Reviewed by Mingyang Zheng.

Review of &lt;i&gt;Young People Leaving State Care in China&lt;/i&gt;. Xiaoyuan Shang and Karen R. Fisher. Reviewed by Mingyang Zheng.

Which transition concept is useful for describing the process of young people leaving state care? A reflection on research and language

ABSTRACTThe transition of adolescents from state care to independent living is receiving increased research attention in many countries. Despite this interest, the concept of ‘transition’, though central, still remains relatively undeveloped. One main issue in comparative work is how we use language to define concepts as well as use them to analyse our findings and shape practice. ‘Transition’ over the last decade has become a key concept in the research and practice field of social work with adolescents, therefore we need to reflect on its use, its possibilities and its limitations. This paper examines selected research literature on the transition from state care to adulthood. The paper suggests that more theorisation needs to be done within the field.

Stand By Me – Flexible and Holistic Support for Young Care Leavers: Smoothing Transitions from Care

Young people placed in out-of-home care (OHC) through Child Protection in Victoria are formally discharged by the expiration of their care order at the age of 18 years or younger. In contrast, young people in Australia generally live in their family home with parents or carers well into their twenties. Whilst there are a range of leaving care and post-care services funded for care leavers, these supports tend to be temporary and discretionary in contrast to the ongoing support young people receive whilst in care or, in some cases, from family and social networks post care. Numerous studies have documented the developmental challenges experienced by young people leaving state care, and the often poor outcomes faced by this group. The Stand By Me (SBM) programme was developed in Victoria to replicate the ongoing support provided in the UK to care leavers by Personal Advisers who remain available to assist young people until 21 years of age. Evaluation of the SBM programme has shown that ongoing, holistic support, including housing support, has assisted 12 young people through the SBM pilot to access stable housing, address multiple and complex issues, and form trusting relationships with SBM workers that contribute to positive outcomes.

Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour among Young People Leaving Care: Case-file Survey

Self-harming and suicide amongst adolescents are reported to be increasing in Europe and internationally. For young people in state care, this aspect of mental well-being is of particular concern. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of suicidal ideation and behaviour amongst young people (age 16–21 years) leaving state care in one health and social care trust in Northern Ireland, and to explore the correlation between this and client risk factors that might inform professional practice. Data were gathered from 164 case files of the total 215 (response rate 76%) in relation to all open cases as of 30 April 2012 extracted by the relevant social workers through the use of a standard data collection tool. Twenty-seven per cent of young people known to the 16+ Teams engaged in self-harm or suicidal behaviour. There was a strong correlation between the number of self-harm incidents and the number of suicide attempts. The risk factors identified were consistent with the research base: “male”, “unemployed”, “alcohol and drug misuse”, “adverse childhood experiences”, “higher number of placement moves” “placement type” and “older age when entering care”. Young people in more isolated placements seemed particularly at risk. The results of this study are of particular relevance to social workers and other professionals working with young people leaving state care.

Project Lungisela: Supporting Young People Leaving State Care in South Africa

This paper focuses on appropriate responses to the unique challenges faced by young people at risk who are transitioning out of state care in South Africa. Specific lessons are drawn from Project Lungisela, a youth leaving care programme created to assist young people leaving state care in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Project Lungisela was initiated by Mamelani Projects, a local non-governmental organisation, in response to the need for support services for youth transitioning out of care, particularly from State children's homes. Support for this target group is neither a well-established nor adequately funded service in South Africa. Most of the children who have participated in the programme have at some stage in their life lived on the street, and many have survived through petty crime with accompanying substance abuse and little or no traditional family support structures. All have exited state care at age 18, as mandated by state regulations for minors attaining the legal age of majority. This paper examines the particular needs of these young people at risk, the interventions implemented to adequately prepare them for leaving state care, the type of support services offered in moving towards independence, the challenges experienced, as well as relevant programme components. The skill of interdependent living is specifically highlighted in preference to independent living skills. This shifts the focus away from young people meeting all of their own needs, to being able to connect them with other young people, to develop networks of support, and to access resources in their community to meet their various needs. This approach has recently been adapted for work with youth who have grown up in foster care. Lessons learnt from working with both target groups are shared in this paper.

‘I remember thinking, why isn’t there someone to help me? Why isn’t there someone who can help me make sense of what I’m going through?’

Recent years have seen a shift away from youth transitions being understood as a linear progression towards conventional goals. Instead, it is now argued that youth transitions tend to be highly chaotic, often involving non-linear and fragmented movement between dependence and independence. This article discusses how young people leaving the state care system are seldom afforded the luxury of a more gradual and non-linear transition. Instead, for them, the possibilities of adult futures remain marked by chronic and continuing exclusion as they move abruptly into ‘instant adulthood’, with no opportunity to return to the child welfare system should they find themselves unable to make it on their own. Drawing from findings of 30 in-depth interviews with young care leavers, social workers and further and higher education institutions in the UK, the article considers the experiences of young people leaving state care, including their perceived lack of ‘care’, and the importance they place on unconditional and emotional support and contact.

Care leavers and social capital: understanding and negotiating racial and ethnic identity

Young people leaving state care are recognized to be one of the most marginalized groups in society. In comparison to their counterparts living in their own family and community context, care leavers experience enormous adversity and upheaval. A combination of poor pre-care, in-care and post-care experiences serves to disadvantage this group of young people in many important ways. Moreover, research evidence documents the complexity of identity issues and concerns for minority ethnic children and young people who are separated from their birth families and are being brought up in public care. By drawing upon a recent and wider empirical study into care leavers in England, this paper explores the sociological concept of social capital and the ways in which this may contribute to young people's understanding and negotiation of their own racial and ethnic identity.

I'll make it work: Young people's views of leaving care in Queensland

Young people leaving state care are undoubtedly among the most vulnerable groups in society. Despite their susceptibility to a range of problems in young adulthood, few Australian studies have examined how young people feel about leaving care and the supports they feel they - will need. This paper presents selected findings from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian's third survey of children and young people in foster and kinship care conducted in Queensland in 2009 which attracted 2727 responses. The paper focuses specifically on the views of 124 young people aged 16 to 18 years. Young people were surveyed on a range of issues including: leaving care, their health and wellbeing, education, placement histories, and perceptions of both their current placement and the care system in general. Findings indicate that most are optimistic about managing independent living but anticipate needing a range of supports, especially financial assistance and help finding accommodation. Over half would prefer to continue living with their foster or kinship care family and more than three-quarters would like ongoing contact with the family after they leave care.

Developing a global approach to the theory and practice of young people leaving state care

ABSTRACTThis paper argues that globalization, although needing to be recognized as a highly complex phenomenon and a contested concept, should become part of the debate about improving the life chances of young people leaving care. Understanding globalization is essential to developing the effective strategies of engagement and resistance needed to address the social exclusion of these young people. Consideration is given to the considerable difficulties faced in moving from that general recognition to a sufficiently nuanced view of the impact of globalization on care leaving required as the basis for action. Existing approaches to promoting international exchange and understanding are discussed and a conceptual model presented as the means to start the work of identifying how the needs of care leavers are assessed and met in different national contexts. It is suggested that by identifying patterns of cross‐national similarities and differences, it will become possible to understand and to engage with the processes and institutions of globalization. An international theoretical and practice agenda are proposed appropriate to the present early stage in ensuring that globalization works for and not against the interests of care leavers.

Young people’s journey to independence: Towards a better future for young people leaving state care in Victoria

Young people leaving state care have been found to experience deficits in all aspects of their life cycle. These include homelessness, poor educational and employment outcomes, involvement in juvenile crime and prostitution, mental and physical health problems, early parenthood and inadequate social support systems. These poor outcomes experienced by care leavers result from a range of factors relating to their pre-care abuse and neglect, poor quality and unstable care history and inadequate support for their successful transition to independence. Young people leaving state care in Victoria are currently lacking the ongoing and guaranteed support that would be expected of a good parent. Using relevant local and international literature and findings from a qualitative study involving 10 care leavers, this paper examines the factors that contribute to negative as well as positive outcomes for young people leaving state care. Some conclusions are drawn regarding policy and practice reforms that could lead to improved outcomes for care leavers.

Leaving care: Thinking systemically, thinking globally

Thanks to the greatly increased interest in the experiences of young people leaving state care, there is now a much better understanding of how vulnerable this group is when making the transition to adulthood. It is also now clear that there must be interrelated formal and informal support provided to young people when leaving and after leaving care if their life chances are to be significantly improved. This article extends the logic of that systemic thinking to embrace the challenge of globalisation as a necessary aspect of contemporary thinking about care leaving. It recognises the difficulties in developing an international perspective but suggests a model for promoting cross national exchange. An agenda is suggested around which global networking could be built in order to ensure that advances being made for care leavers in any one country are both secured against the negative impact of globalisation and become part of a global resource.

Measuring the cost of leaving care in Victoria

On any given night in Victoria, around 4,000 children and young people live under the care and protection of the State. For many young people, this care extends over a long period of time, sometimes until their 18th birthday. It is well documented that young people leaving State care often lack the social and economic resources to assist them in making the transition into independent living. As a consequence, the long-term life outcomes from this group are frequently very poor. A recent report from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare in partnership with Monash University estimated that, for a typical cohort of 450 young people who leave care in Victoria each year, the direct cost to the State resulting from these poor outcomes is $332.5 million. The estimated average outcomes of the leaving care population are based on a recent survey involving sixty young people who had spent at least two years in care as teenagers. This paper provides an overview of the economic methodology used to estimate this cost, and provides discussion of the motivation for measuring outcomes in terms of costs to the State.

From dependence to interdependence: towards better outcomes for young people leaving state care

Young people leaving out of home care are arguably one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society. Compared to most young people, they face particular difficulties in accessing educational, employment, housing and other developmental and transitional opportunities. Care leavers have been found to experience significant health, social and educational deficits including homelessness, involvement in juvenile crime and prostitution, mental and physical health problems, poor educational and employment outcomes, inadequate social support systems and early parenthood. These poor outcomes reflect a number of factors including ongoing emotional trauma resulting from experiences of abuse and neglect prior to care, inadequate support while in care, accelerated transitions to adulthood and lack of guaranteed ongoing financial and other assistance to help facilitate this transition. Young people leaving care do not currently receive the ongoing support that a good parent would be expected to provide for their children. Using relevant literature from the USA, UK and Australia, this paper examines the factors that contribute to these poor outcomes and potential policy and practice reforms that may lead to better outcomes for care leavers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Graduating from the Child Welfare System

Summary: Historically, insufficient resources and assistance have been provided to young people leaving state care. This article provides a case study of the campaign for leaving care services in Victoria. Findings: Young people leaving care experience homelessness, early parenthood, loneliness, depression, poverty, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Attention is drawn to the key arguments for after-care supports for young people leaving care, the consumer and provider lobby groups that have driven the policy debate, the outcomes of existing services, and the barriers (particularly in Australia) to the creation of effective services. Applications: Supports and services that are needed to ensure improved outcomes for care leavers are identified. These include the provision of stable and supportive placements with a positive attitude to education, maintenance of links with either family members or community supports, a flexible and functional process for graduating from dependence to interdependence, the active involvement of young people in the leaving care planning and decision-making process, the availability of a range of accommodation options, and ongoing support as required.

From State Care to Independence:

Historically, insufficient resources and assistance have been provided to young people leaving state care. Care leavers have been found to experience significant health, social and educational deficits including homelessness, disproportionate involvement in juvenile crime and prostitution, poor social supports, and early parenthood. The U.S. and Australia share a roughly common political language and system and have often exchanged ideas, agendas, and policies for government. This paper finds that whilst there are some minor differences in the respective legislative frameworks and responses, the similarities are far greater. Both countries have failed to provide the range of in-care, transitional, and post-care supports and services required to ensure improved outcomes for care leavers.

Graduating from the child welfare system: a comparison of the UK and Australian leaving care debates

Historically, insufficient resources and assistance have been provided to young people leaving state care. Care leavers have been found to experience significant health, social and educational deficits including homelessness, disproportionate involvement in juvenile crime and prostitution, poor social supports and early parenthood. This paper compares the UK and Australian debates around improving outcomes for care leavers. Whilst there are some minor differences in the respective legislative frameworks and responses, the similarities are far greater. Both countries have failed to provide the range of in‐care, transitional and post‐care supports and services required to ensure improved outcomes for care leavers.

Leaving care programs locally and internationally: Towards better outcomes

Historically, insufficient resources and assistance have been provided to young people leaving state care. Young people leaving care have been found to experience homelessness, unemployment, early parenthood, loneliness, depression, poverty, and involvement with the juvenile justice system.In recent years, a growing body of research literature has explored the experiences of young people leaving care, and the identification of key factors underlying good after care support practice. Attention is drawn to some of the key findings of this research such as the need for a more gradual and flexible process of transition to independence, specific legislation providing for the ongoing support of care leavers, and the provision of formal and properly resourced after-care services. Reference is also made to the key role played by consumer advocacy groups in facilitating the successful transition to independence of care leavers.