From residential care to independent living

Abstract

This study attempts to demonstrate the difficulties youths leaving care face during their transition together with recommended steps to be taken to safeguard their welfare. In the first part of the study, it was found that there is a difference between young persons leaving parental care and young persons leaving residential care. It then proceeds with highlighting the importance of preparation before leaving care, the various aspects which need to be present in a residential setting and the consideration which should be given to aftercare. Social work roles as illustrated by Compton and Galaway (1999) were also applied to leaving care work. This study also looks at three different aspects of care leavers' psychosocial development. The first aspect has to do with the provision of care of the young adults, which care will eventually help the person in moving out successfully. Then it proceeds by highlighting the importance of assessing care leavers' preparation before leaving care and how this can be done. The final aspect concerns ways in which professionals in the field of residential care can help the client in identifying and building new support systems while strengthening the already existing ones. This study sought to identify the levels of care leavers' preparation in Malta were it was found that no specific programmes or policies support youths who are leaving care. This led to several attempted recommendations coupled with an exploration of the theoretical framework which guides the worker in interventions with care leavers.