No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
I'll make it work: Young people's views of leaving care in Queensland
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 February 2016
Abstract
Young people leaving state care are undoubtedly among the most vulnerable groups in society. Despite their susceptibility to a range of problems in young adulthood, few Australian studies have examined how young people feel about leaving care and the supports they feel they - will need. This paper presents selected findings from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian's third survey of children and young people in foster and kinship care conducted in Queensland in 2009 which attracted 2727 responses. The paper focuses specifically on the views of 124 young people aged 16 to 18 years. Young people were surveyed on a range of issues including: leaving care, their health and wellbeing, education, placement histories, and perceptions of both their current placement and the care system in general. Findings indicate that most are optimistic about managing independent living but anticipate needing a range of supports, especially financial assistance and help finding accommodation. Over half would prefer to continue living with their foster or kinship care family and more than three-quarters would like ongoing contact with the family after they leave care.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010
References
REFERENCES
CCYPCG—see Commission for Children and Young People and Child GuardianGoogle Scholar
Ofsted—see Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and SkillsGoogle Scholar
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010) Child Protection Australia 2008-2009, Child Welfare Series no. 47. Cat. No. CWS 35, Canberra: AIHW.Google Scholar
Barber, J. & Delfabbro, P. (2005) ‘Children's adjustment to long term foster care’, Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 27, pp. 329–340.Google Scholar
Bruskas, D. (2008) ‘Children in foster care: A vulnerable population’, Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 70–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cashmore, J. & Paxman, M. (1996) Wards leaving care: A longitudinal study, Sydney: NSW Department of Community Services.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J. & Paxman, M. (2006) ‘Predicting after-care outcomes: The importance of ‘felt’ security’, Child and Family Social Work, Vol. 11, pp. 232–241.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J., Paxman, M. & Townsend, M. (2007) ‘The educational outcomes of young people 4-5 years after leaving care: An Australian perspective’, Adoption and Fostering, vol. 31(1), pp. 50–61.Google Scholar
Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (2008) Views of children and young people in foster care, Queensland, 2008, Brisbane: Author.Google Scholar
Commonwealth of Australia (2009) Protecting children is everyone's business: National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009 – 2020, Canberra: Author.Google Scholar
Courtney, M.E., Dworsky, A. & Pollack, H. (2007) When should the State cease parenting? Evidence from the Midwest Study, Issue Brief 115, Chicago: Chapin Hall Centre for Children at the University of Chicago.Google Scholar
Delfabbro, P.H., Barber, J.G. & Bentham, Y. (2002) ‘Young people's satisfaction with South Australian foster care’. Journal of Adolescence, Vol. 25, pp. 523–534.Google Scholar
Forbes, C., Inder, B. & Raman, S. (2006) ‘Measuring the cost of leaving care in Victoria’, Children Australia, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 26–33.Google Scholar
Fowler, P.J., Toro, P.A. & Miles, B.W. (2009) ‘Pathways to and from homelessness and associated psychosocial outcomes among adolescents leaving the foster care system’, American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 99, No. 8, pp. 1453–1458.Google Scholar
Johnson, G., Natalier, K., Mendes, P., Liddiard, M., Thoresen, S., Hollows, A. & Bailey, N. (2010) Pathways from out-of-home care, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic, viewed 8 May 2010, <http://www.ahuri.edu.au/publications/download/80551_fr/>.Google Scholar
Maunders, D., Liddell, M., Liddell, M. & Green, S. (1999) Young people leaving care and protection, Hobart: National Youth Affairs Research Scheme.Google Scholar
McDowall, J. (2009) Transitioning from care: Tracking progress, Sydney: CREATE Foundation.Google Scholar
Mendes, P. (2009) ‘Young people transitioning from out-of-home care: A critical analysis of Australian and international policy and practice’, Australian Social Work, Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 388–402.Google Scholar
Moselhuddin, B. & Mendes, P. (2006) ‘Young people's journey to independence: Towards a better future for young people leaving state care in Victoria’, Children Australia, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 47–54.Google Scholar
Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (2009) Support for care leavers, London: Ofsted.Google Scholar
National Care Advisory Service (2010) What could make a difference? Care leavers and the welfare benefits system, London: Author.Google Scholar
Raman, S., Inder, B. & Forbes, C. (2005) Investing for success: The economics of supporting young people leaving care, Monograph 5, Melbourne: Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.Google Scholar
Schneider, R., Baumrind, N., Pavao, J., Stockdale, G., Castelli, P., Goodman, G. & Kimerling, R. (2009) ‘What happens to youth removed from parental care? Health and economic outcomes for women with a history of out-of-home placement’, Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 440–444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stein, M. (2006) ‘Research Review: Young people leaving care’, Child and Family Social Work, vol. 11, pp. 273–279.Google Scholar
Stein, M. & Dixon, J. (2006) ‘Young people leaving care in Scotland’, European Journal of Social Work, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 407–423.Google Scholar
Tweddle, A. (2007) ‘Youth leaving care: How do they fare?’, New Directions for Youth Development, Vol. 113, pp. 15–31.Google Scholar