Session 15/21
Page 2/7 What research tells us about care leaversWhat research tells us about care leavers
UNDERSTANDING THE SHIFT FROM CARE TO ADULT LIFE AS A LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT
World research in care leaver success or failure after care shows that this moment is a very critical time for youth. For many who have lived without loving care in a protected environment, their return or transition to society and the culture of origin is a very challenging experience. Although many succeed, too many end up being homeless, in lifelong unemployment, or being involved in criminal activities. We must listen to the care leavers’ experiences: they say that the shift to adult life in the community happens too suddenly. We often think of leaving care as a single shift from care and protection to independent living. As said by one African researcher, this idea has not proved useful. Because: independence in youth can only be achieved by preparation from the start of care, and by building a new inter-dependent social network after leaving. Leaving is a long-term process: In interviews, care leavers ask for a long-term plan with preparation from childhood, and more support after care. In this session, you will be presented with knowledge and ideas for all three phases from childhood to aftercare. You can decide to make a work plan for each phase, or focus on one of them, depending on your situation. In order to plan how to improve preparation and support, let us first find out: what are the challenges for East African care leavers?
UNDERSTANDING FOUR MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR EAST AFRICAN CARE LEAVERS
Our interviews with care leavers and African researchers name four major challenges that care leavers ask for help to overcome. They need to learn practical daily skills in childhood. They need help to separate from SOS mothers or foster parents, and support from others to guide them after care. They need help to connect with community networks: How to connect with the family of origin, with social workers, with workplaces, and with other care leavers.
In research and interviews, these are the questions they ask us:
“How do I leave my secure base and overcome the separation?”
The most important premises for success in life after care are: to grow up with a deep emotional attachment to foster mothers or foster parents, and bonds with siblings and friends. For young people, saying goodbye to this familiar base is a challenge. Early childhood separation trauma may wake up again and create high anxiety and stress. As expressed by an African care leaver: “Everything will be dark and I will be scared. Full of sorrow … I feel sick about myself whenever I think of the future”. After leaving care, the important long-term relations and attachments with caregivers and teachers are often lost. Young care leavers report sorrow and loneliness when SOS Mothers retire, or the foster family is occupied by caring for new children. They need guides, even after care.
“Did I learn practical daily skills before leaving care?”
Growing up in a protected environment is good for secure attachments, school performance and social development. However, many were looked after and serviced in childhood, rather than being involved actively in daily chores, and thus learn basic life skills. When returning to society, many have difficulties in keeping appointments, manage a bank account or plan a budget, write a job application, or cook food, or use public transportation. Children’s Village youth have better school performance than most care leavers (eight out of ten pass the 9th grade exam, and 14 % have academic degrees). But they often have huge problems in managing daily tasks. They need to learn simple practical life skills long before leaving.
“Can I find my first job and a place to live?”
According to the African Development Bank (2016) 12 million youth enter the job market every year and only 3 million new jobs are created. High unemployment rates for youth is a major challenge for East African care leavers. Even with a good exam, it is difficult for them to find jobs to cover their daily expenses. Finding jobs in townships or slums often require vocational education in useful practical craftmanship (welding, carpentry, car repair, street vendor sales skills, etc.) that should have been learned as a teenager. Practical job skills are the more necessary, as the great migration from villages to cities makes it difficult to find and pay for housing. They need training as teenagers, in jobs that are needed and useful in the community.
“How do I connect with the social networks in my new community?”
Care leavers tell us that the transition to independent life in the community can be overwhelming for them, even with present preparation practices. They often feel alone and exposed, they don’t know how to connect with the new community they live in, or find it difficult to re-unite with their family of origin. Where to find good will and help, and pitfalls to be avoided– who may cheat or abuse them? They need help to build new social networks in the community, and advice to keep them out of danger.