Young people leaving care in Sweden

Abstract

The transition from a placement in care to an independent life can be a problematic phase for young people. In Sweden, special care‐leaving services are almost non‐existent. What then happens to young people when they leave a placement in out‐of‐home care? This paper draws on the results of a study in which 16 young care leavers between the ages of 18 and 22 years were interviewed. Telephone interviews were also performed with the young care leavers' parents, social workers, foster carers and institutional staff. The aim of the study was to investigate how young care leavers perceive the transition from care to an independent life. The Swedish welfare model, the prolonged transition to adulthood and the family‐oriented welfare discourse have been used as analytical perspectives. The results show that young care leavers have a pronounced need for social, emotional, practical and financial support. Whilst such support is occasionally provided by foster carers and residential staff, it is seldom given by social services or biological parents. This group is at risk of facing severe problems in the transitional phase from care to independent life, a fact that is not acknowledged by the Swedish welfare system.

Services and outcomes for transition-age foster care youth: Youths' perspectives

“…Courtney & Dworsky, 2006;Dixon, 2008). Challenging circumstances facing this population have also been identified in other countries (Benbenishty & Schiff, 2009;Höjer & Sjöblom, 2010;Mendes, 2009;Snow, 2009), although these reports have been limited to industrialized nations.…”

Participatory peer research methodology: An effective method for obtaining young people’s perspectives on transitions from care to adulthood?

“…In recent years there has been increased recognition of the value of obtaining young people's views, involving young people in decision-making and policy development (Checkoway and Richard-Schuster, 2003;Cunningham and Diversi, 2012;Hojer and Sjoblom, 2010;Munro, 2008a;Prout, 2002;Roche, 1999;Shier, 2001) and adopting peer research methodology, in studies involving looked after children and care 4 leavers (Bureau, 2007;Children in Scotland, Daly, 2009;Scottish Executive, 2006;Stein and Verweijen-Slamnescu, 2012; WMTD/Rainer and National Children's).…”

El Tránsito a La Vida Adulta De Los Jóvenes en Acogimiento Residencial: El Rol De La Familia

“…Estamos hablando, por tanto, de «interdependencia» más que de «independencia», entendiendo por «interdependencia» la creación y mantenimiento de redes de apoyo social con personas significativas en la vida del joven (Andrew, Williams y Waters, 2014;Flynn y Vincent, 2008;Höjer y Sjöblom, 2010;Iglehart, 1993;1994;Kerman, Wildfire y Barth, 2002;Mendes, 2006;Reilly, 2003;Sala-Roca, Villalba, Jariot, y Arnau, 2012;Wade y Munro, 2008). Sin embargo, los resultados de la investigación en este aspecto muestran discrepancias.…”