Abstract
A growing concern for child welfare is how preparation for adulthood programmes can be strengthened to more effectively meet the needs of youth in out-of-home care. There is a gap in our knowledge about how young adults in out-of-home care in Africa are prepared for their transition to adulthood. The present study adds to the current body of research on the subject by exploring the preparation for adulthood experiences of young Ghanaian care-leavers with a particular focus on sources, needs and barriers to preparation for leaving care. Interviews were conducted with 27 young adults who had exited the SOS children's village in Tema, Ghana and were analysed using the framework approach. The key findings of the study were that young adults used a variety of sources in preparing for adulthood, which included the SOS mother, the youth facilities and the boarding house. The youth identified a number of deficits in their preparation for leaving care including finance, accommodation and cultural skills. They also identified a number of barriers to their preparation including the lack of support and guidance and a lack of input into decisions regarding their future. Recommendations for improving the practice of independent living preparation are proposed. These recommendations include formally involving care-givers in the preparation process and including young people in decisions relating to their preparation.