After Care: Controlling and Helping Care Leavers in a Community of Foster Care

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
Johanna Sköld
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
After Care ◽  
Care Leavers

scholarly journals Vulnerable childhood, vulnerable adulthood: Direct provision as aftercare for aged-out separated children seeking asylum in Ireland

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muireann Ní Raghallaigh ◽  
Liam Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Foster Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
The State ◽  
Migrant Status ◽  
After Care ◽  
Systematic Exploration ◽  
Care Leavers ◽  
Discretionary Powers

Ireland’s approach to after-care for ‘aged-out’ separated children is problematic. Currently, upon reaching the age of 18, most separated young people are moved to ‘direct provision’, despite the fact that the state can use discretionary powers to allow them to remain in foster care. Direct provision is the system Ireland adopts providing bed and board to asylum seekers, along with a weekly monetary payment. Separated young people in Ireland are in a vulnerable position after ageing out. Entry into the direct provision system, from a legal and social work perspective, is concerning. Utilising direct provision as a ‘form of aftercare’ emphasises governmental policy preferences that privilege the migrant status of aged-out separated children, as opposed to viewing this group as young people leaving care. In this article, utilising a cross-disciplinary approach, we provide the first systematic exploration of the system of aftercare for aged-out separated children in Ireland. In doing so, we posit two core reasons for why the aftercare system for aged-out separated children has developed as it has. First, doing so ensures that the state is consistent with its approach to asylum seekers more generally, in that it seeks to deter persons from claiming asylum in Ireland through utilisation of the direct provision system. Second, while the vulnerability of aged-out separated children is well-documented, the state (and others) ignore this vulnerability and are reluctant to offer additional aftercare supports beyond direct provision. This is due, we argue, to viewing aged-out separated children as having a lesser entitlement to rights than other care leavers, solely based on their migrant status.

Unveiling the experiences of young people in foster care: Perspectives from Portugal and Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 433-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Temitayo K Adeboye ◽  
Maria das Dores Guerreiro ◽  
Ingrid Höjer
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Foster Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Successful Transition ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
After Care ◽  
Transition Into Adulthood

This article examines the lived experiences of young people in the process of leaving the care of SOS Children’s Villages in both Nigeria and Portugal. Interviews were conducted with 12 young people and data were analysed using content analysis. Young people’s lived experiences were captured in three emerging dimensions of past, present and future experiences. The study recommends resolving young people’s childhood conflicts towards a successful transition into adulthood. It also has implications for policy practice in tailoring the present experiences in preparing young people for the demands of life after care.

Moving from dependence to independence: A study of the experiences of 18 care leavers in a leaving care and after care support service in Victoria

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Support Service ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
After Care ◽  
Care Leavers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rural Policy ◽  
Significant Health ◽  
Care Support

Young people leaving state out-of-home care are arguably one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society. Many have been found to experience significant health, social and educational deficits. In recent years, most Australian States and Territories have introduced specialist leaving care and after care programs and supports, but there has been only limited examination of the effectiveness of these programs. This paper examines the experiences of a group of young people involved in the leaving care and after care support program introduced by St Luke's Anglicare and Whitelion in the Victorian town of Bendigo. Attention is drawn to the impact of some of the key program initiatives around accommodation, employment and mentoring. Some conclusions are drawn about ‘what works’ in leaving care programs, including particular implications for rural policy and practice.

Exploring the support services of foster care leavers: An institutional ethnographic study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Cudjoe ◽  
Isaac Amoateng ◽  
James Nti‐Gyeabour ◽  
Pernille Wisti
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Care Leavers

Connected After Care: Youth Characteristics, Policy, and Programs Associated With Postsecondary Education and Employment for Youth With Foster Care Histories

2021 ◽  
pp. 107755952110347
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Geiger ◽  
Nathanael J. Okpych
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
State Level ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
National Data ◽  
After Care ◽  
Foster Youths ◽  
Education And Employment ◽  
Policies And Programs

Recent federal laws and state policies reflect the government’s investment in improving education and employment outcomes for youth with foster care histories. However, little research has assessed the roles of these programs using national data. Drawing on data from the National Youth in Transitions Database (NYTD) ( n = 7797), this study examines the roles that state-level policies and programs, youth-level participation in programs and services, and youth characteristics play in youths’ connection to employment and education (“connectedness”) at age 21. Results from multilevel regression analyses find that foster youth in states with widely available tuition waiver programs increases the odds of connectedness to school. The amount of time youth spend in extended foster care, as well as receipt of postsecondary education aid and services, also increases connectedness. Study findings underscore the importance of material and relational supports in supporting foster youths’ connection to employment and education in early adulthood.

Leaving care programs locally and internationally: Towards better outcomes

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Mendes ◽  
Chris Goddard
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Advocacy Groups ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Care Services ◽  
After Care ◽  
Care Leavers ◽  
Ongoing Support ◽  
Transition To Independence

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.

Care Leavers in Israel: What Contributes to Better Adjustment to Life After Care?

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yafit Sulimani-Aidan ◽  
Rami Benbenishty ◽  
Tamar Dinisman ◽  
Anat Zeira
Keyword(s):  
After Care ◽  
Care Leavers
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