Young people transitioning from out-of-home care and problematic substance use The views of young people and workers in Victoria

Existing research findings indicate that young people from state care backgrounds experience higher rates of substance use and misuse than the general population. This study explored the nature of this relationship via semi-structured, qualitative interviews with four young people who had recently transitioned from state care and three workers in the out-of-home care field, plus a focus group with seven out-of-home care and leaving care workers. The findings suggest that a range of individual, interpersonal and systematic factors contribute to problematic substance use. They include the use of self-medication to address past and present trauma, a lack of meaningful and stable relationships, and state care policies and practices that lead to young people experiencing premature and unplanned exits from state care. Some significant implications for policy and practice are identified.

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Young People Leaving State Out-of-home Care: Australian Policy and Practice

Child Care in Practice ◽

10.1080/13575279.2012.716261 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 419-421

Author(s):

Steve Mack

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Home Care ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Out Of Home Care

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What Does International Research Identify as the Best Practice Housing Pathways for Young People Transitioning from Out of Home Care?

Institutionalised Children Explorations and Beyond ◽

10.1177/23493003211064369 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 234930032110643

Author(s):

Jacinta Chavulak ◽

Philip Mendes

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Home Care ◽

Affordable Housing ◽

Best Practice ◽

Transition Planning ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Out Of Home Care ◽

Extended Care ◽

Care Leavers ◽

Housing Pathways

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (often called care leavers) are globally a disadvantaged group who can be particularly vulnerable to experiences of housing instability and homelessness. This article presents a scoping review of international scholarly literature pertaining to housing pathways for care leavers from 2015–2020. The 15 publications identified were analysed according to location, methodology, sample accessed, key findings regarding housing pathways and outcomes, and recommendations for policy and practice reform. Our findings suggest that good transition planning, continuing support from responsible adults, the availability of safe and affordable housing and extended care till at least 21 years should enable more positive housing transitions.

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Young People with Complex Needs Leaving Out-of-Home Care: Service Issues and the Need to Enhance Practice and Policy

Children Australia ◽

10.1017/cha.2015.48 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 69-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Catia Malvaso ◽

Paul Delfabbro

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Home Care ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Current System ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Complex Needs ◽

Out Of Home Care ◽

Service Engagement

Leaving statutory out-of-home care (OOHC) is a challenging time for many young people; however, certain groups have greater difficulty transitioning to independence. This includes young people with multiple and complex needs, such as those suffering from mental health problems and disabilities, as well as young people with borderline conditions or who disengage from services. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the service issues pertaining to these vulnerable groups in South Australia, as well as to identify ways that policy and practice can be enhanced to better facilitate service engagement. Twenty-nine individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with people working in organisations who have knowledge of, or contact with, young people leaving care (N = 66). Thematic analysis was used to organise responses according to two overarching themes: (1) Issues with current leaving care services and preparation, and (2) Enhancing policy and practice. The principal challenges related to difficulties in matching the structure of formal services to a population with highly unstructured living arrangements, a history of problematic engagement with the care system, and difficulties arising due to service ineligibility issues. Potential improvements to the current system and program delivery are discussed.

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Out-of-Home Care As an Institutional Risk Environment for Volatile Substance Use

Children Australia ◽

10.1017/cha.2012.4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 23-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sarah MacLean

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Young People ◽

Drug Use ◽

Home Care ◽

Familial Risk ◽

Volatile Substance ◽

Future Research ◽

Risk Environment ◽

Out Of Home Care ◽

Institutional Risk

The exploratory study of meanings of volatile substance use (VSU) on which this article draws (involving 28 young people living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australa, aged from 13 to 24 years, each with experience of VSU, and 14 expert workers) was not designed to investigate any relationship between VSU and living in out-of-home care while subject to protective orders. However, when asked about their lives at the time they commenced or intensified VSU, 8 participants were adamant that living in out-of-home care was a significant factor. Two narratives reiterated by these young people are identified in the article: first that VSU is part of life in out-of-home care, and second that VSU ceases to be appropriate after leaving care. Young people who are living in out-of-home care report substantially higher levels of VSU than occur across the general population. This article shows how narrative accounts (even when expressed by small numbers of participants) provide insight into how VSU and other drug use may become embedded in particular institutional settings through assuming meanings and utility for users that are specific to these environments. While previous literature on the aetiology of VSU generally emphasises individual or familial risk factors, this article argues that out-of-home care may function, at least in some instances, as an institutional ‘risk environment’ for VSU and that this should be further explored through future research. Adjusting models of care may offer new strategies for responding to this form of drug use.

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Policy and practice supports for young people transitioning from out-of-home care: An analysis of six recent inquiries in Australia

Journal of Social Work ◽

10.1177/1468017319852702 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 599-619 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Philip Mendes ◽

Samone McCurdy

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Home Care ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Child Protection ◽

Policy Issue ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Out Of Home Care ◽

Care Leavers ◽

The Impact

Summary Government and parliamentary inquiries into child protection have historically exerted a significant impact on policy and practice reform. Yet to date, there has been no analysis of the impact of such inquiries on programme and service supports for young people transitioning from out-of-home care (often termed leaving care). This article uses a content analysis methodology to critically examine and compare the findings of six recent Australian child protection inquiries (five at state and territory level and one Commonwealth) in relation to their discrete sections on leaving care. Attention is drawn to how the policy issue is framed including key terminology, the major concerns identified, the local and international research evidence cited and the principal sources of information including whether or not priority is given to the lived experience of care leavers. Findings All six inquiries identified major limitations in leaving care legislation, policy and practice including poor outcomes in key areas such as housing, education and employment. There was a consensus that post-18 assistance should be expanded, and most of the reports agreed that greater attention should be paid to the specific cultural needs of the large number of Indigenous care leavers. Applications Care leavers universally are a vulnerable group; leaving care policy should be informed by the lived experience and expertise of care leavers; governments have a responsibility to provide ongoing supports beyond 18 years of age, particularly in areas such as housing and education, training and employment

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[…] you feel there’s nowhere left to go: the barriers to support among women who experience substance use and domestic abuse in the UK

Advances in Dual Diagnosis ◽

10.1108/add-09-2019-0010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 57-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Fox

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Domestic Abuse ◽

Research Policy ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Content Type ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Problematic Substance ◽

The Uk

Purpose Domestic abuse victimisation is a common experience among women with problematic substance use, but support provision for both issues is siloed within the UK. Research on the topic focuses on practitioner responses, dominating women’s voices within research, policy and practice. As such, knowledge about women’s experiences of help-seeking is missing. This study therefore aims to fill a gap in knowledge by exploring the lived experiences of supporting seeking among women impacted by domestic abuse and substance use. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women who had a history of co-occurring problematic substance use and domestic abuse. Influenced by interpretive phenomenological analysis and feminist research praxis, the study explored how women with dual needs navigated support and help seeking and the barriers they faced. Findings The women reported the biggest barrier was the disconnect between substance use and domestic abuse support, including a gap in the communication of information. This resulted in them having to choose which of their needs to seek support for. None of the women received support for their combined experiences, and most of the women never received support for their domestic abuse experiences alone. Originality/value This is the first piece of research from the UK to explore, in-depth, women’s journey through support for their co-occurring substance use and domestic abuse victimisation. Previous research has not consulted with women to understand how they navigate the complex support systems available. This paper is, therefore, important, because it demonstrates the journeys to services these women take and the barriers they have to overcome.

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