NCJ Number
214282
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2006 Pages: 110-126
Date Published
March 2006
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article explores the factors contributing to the poor outcomes observed among young people leaving State care and examines potential policy reforms to improve outcomes.
Abstract
An examination of the research literature from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia reveals that care leavers are particularly disadvantaged in a number of areas and as a result have reduced life chances compared to other young people. The first part of the article describes the disadvantages of care leavers, which include a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; inadequate schooling and placement disruption; and no direct family support to ease their transition into independent living. The second part of the article discusses the demographic characteristics of care leavers and presents evidence of their poor social, health, and educational outcomes. These findings reveal that although care leavers are quite different in terms of abuse history, age, ethnicity, and in-care experience, they all share a vulnerability for homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, poor mental and physical health, education and employment deficits, poor social support systems, juvenile delinquency and prostitution, and early parenthood upon leaving state care. The third part of the article analyzes recent policy initiatives in all three countries designed to improve outcomes among care leavers while the last part of the article presents policy and practice reforms that may improve outcomes for care leavers. These reforms would address the social exclusion and isolation experienced by care leavers by implementing a flexible graduation process from dependence to independence and by providing the additional supports needed by care leavers who experienced childhood abuse and neglect. The establishment of international collaborative networks is recommended to facilitate improved policy and practice regarding the support of care leavers. References