Filling the void : the relationship between the experience of youth in out-of-home care and substance abuse

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between youth in out-of-home care and substance abuse, from the perspective of social workers. The social workers that participated in this research all have professional experience with youth in out-of-home care and substance abuse. Therefore, the researcher aims to outline risk and protective factors, which may lead youth in out-home-care to use drugs. Moreover the findings of this study were gathered through a qualitative approach by using a focus group. The focus group consisted of seven social workers from The Foundation of Social Welfare Services including; the Looked After Children Service and the Youth in Focus Service and as well as, two residential homes for boys, namely, St Joseph Home and St Patrick’s Residential Services. The study will strive to investigate the processes that lead youth in care to ‘fill the void’ with drugs and how this process is perceived by social workers working in the related field. A qualitative approach was adopted in this study by conducting a focus group as the method of data collection. A group of seven social workers attended the focus group. The information gathered through the focus group discussion was later transcribed and divided into main themes and sub themes according to their relevance to the dissertation title. The most fundamental themes, which emerged from the focus group in relation to youth in out-of-home care and substance abuse included; Permanency Planning and After Care, Substance Misuse, Attachment and the Out-of-Home Care System. Prominent issues identified also include the lack of resources, family histories of such youth who are in care, the stability they need and their resilience. The research study concludes by including recommendations for future research and also for policy makers.