Globalization, the Welfare State and Young People Leaving State Out-of-Home Care

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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The Experiences of Indigenous Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care in Victoria, Australia

Leaving Care and the Transition to Adulthood ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190630485.003.0009 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 149-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Philip Mendes ◽

Bernadette Saunders ◽

Susan Baidawi

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Home Care ◽

Support Services ◽

Service Providers ◽

Exploratory Research ◽

Positive Role ◽

Out Of Home Care ◽

Indigenous Children ◽

Care Leavers ◽

The Impact

This chapter reports on exploratory research in Victoria, Australia, involving focus groups and interviews with service providers and Indigenous care leavers to examine the impact of existing support services. Indigenous children and young people are highly overrepresented in the Australian out-of-home care system. To date, neither specific research focusing on this group’s experiences as they transition from care nor an assessment of the Indigenous-specific and non-Indigenous supports and services available to them have been undertaken. Findings suggest that Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations (ACCOs) play a positive role in working with non-Indigenous agencies to assist Indigenous care leavers. Participants identified a few key strategies to improve outcomes, such as facilitating stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous services and improving ACCO resourcing.

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Resilience, Transitions, and Youth Leaving Care

Leaving Care and the Transition to Adulthood ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190630485.003.0004 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 51-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robbie Gilligan

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Young People ◽

Home Care ◽

Social Ecology ◽

Adult Life ◽

Out Of Home Care ◽

Care Leavers ◽

Youth Transitions

This chapter discusses resilience in the lives of care leavers. Youth transitions can be especially challenging for young adults who face major adversity in their lives as they negotiate early encounters with adult life. One such group is young people leaving out-of-home care at the official age, in many jurisdictions, of 18 years. Young people leaving care often do not have the luxury of extending the timing of their transitions, as may be the case for their peers not in care; circumstances force them to make early transitions and, typically, without the level of support their more fortunate peers may be able to call on. Yet many young adults leaving care do quite well; they manage to display resilience. They find resources in their social ecology which help them to manage the process of their transitions. This chapter explores the background to such displays of resilience and how former caregivers and other concerned adults may help to stimulate and sustain such resilience. It also argues that support from concerned adults in arenas such as education and work may be especially helpful in promoting resilience to adversity among youth transitioning to adulthood from care.

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