Leaving Alternative Care and Reintegration

It is important to support children who are preparing to leave care. This includes helping young people as they ‘age out’ of the care system and transition to independent living, as well as children planning to return home and reintegrate with their families. In either case, leaving care should be a gradual and supervised process that involves careful preparation and follow-up support to children and families.

The transition from alternative care to independent living can be challenging for young people. While some departures from care may be well planned, others may be sudden or unexpected, leaving young people emotionally and financially ill-equipped to cope with change. Without adequate preparation for leaving care and support during the aftercare phase, young people may face risks such as long-term unemployment, substance abuse, involvement in criminal activities and homelessness. Studies indicate that the biggest barriers to transitioning children out of care includes the absence of supportive relationships, educational challenges, housing instability and economic challenges (unemployment).

Reducing these risks involves working with children to plan for life after care and adulthood– including helping them to determine the most appropriate living environment, develop necessary life, financial management and job skills, and ensure that they have a reliable support system in place. Once children leave care, they should be encouraged to maintain contact with their previous care givers and friends, have access to basic services and quality housing with financial assistance, and be supported to follow educational, vocational and employment opportunities. Above all, evidence indicates that young people who benefit from gradual, extended and supported transitions from care have better outcomes than those who leave early and abruptly.

Girls and boys who leave care to return home can also benefit from a gradual process of reintegration with their families – both before and after the event. Initially this should involve a comprehensive assessment of whether the problems that led to family separation (such as poverty or social problems) have been adequately resolved, and whether a return home is in a child’s best interests. If so, the child, family and alternative caregivers should be supported to prepare and plan for reintegration – which may involve increasing the frequency and duration of children’s family visits before the final return, helping to build parenting skills, assessing families’ financial, practical and emotional support needs and developing a care plan to address them.

Once children are reunited with their families, ongoing support and supervision can play a critical role in ensuring that reintegration is lasting. For example social or community workers can provide counselling support, facilitate families’ access to social protection benefits and make sure that children have the academic support required to catch up at a new school. In some cases, children’s extended family and the broader community can also be encouraged to provide emotional or practical support.

This section contains literature on children leaving alternative care in non-emergency settings. This includes lessons learned and best practices regarding family reintegration, as well as guidance for supporting young people as they leave the care system and transition to independent living.

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Challenges in the transition to adulthood of young-adult Arabs who graduated from residential facilities in Israel

Yafit Sulimani-Aidan - Children and Youth Services Review, 31 Mar 2020

The current exploratory study is the first to look at the challenges and barriers in this transitional life stage of 23 Israeli Arab young adults, from their own perspectives, after leaving residential care.

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Experiences of trafficked and sexually exploited boys transitioning from shelter programmes into the community: Findings from a longitudinal study

Laura Cordisco Tsai, Vanntheary Lim, Channtha Nhanh - Children & Society, 30 Mar 2020

This article explores the perspectives of Cambodian boys who have experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation on their experiences transitioning out of shelters and re‐entering the community.

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What Works: Colleges Building Pipelines for Students in Foster Care

Sarah E. Jones - National Youth-At-Risk Conference 2020 Archive, 11 Mar 2020

This presentation explores the structures and programs one university system is creating for college students emerging from foster care (SEFC).

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Investigación regional - Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección

DONCEL, 10 Mar 2020

Este video describe brevemente la investigación de la Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección coordinado por DONCELque estudió cómo se dan los egresos de las y los adolescentes que crecieron bajo el sistema de protección del Estado, lejos de sus familias por haber sufrido abusos, maltratos y violencia.

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Más autonomía, más derechos: Investigación sobre modalidades de acompañamiento de las transiciones de adolescentes y jóvenes del sistema de cuidados alternativos a la vida autónoma en América Latina

Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección, con DONCEL, Hope and Homes for Children y UNICEF, 01 Mar 2020

El presente informe reúne los hallazgos principales de una investigación de carácter exploratorio-descriptivo que ha sido desarrollada en seis países de la región (Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, México y Perú). El objetivo fue documentar y analizar las políticas, estrategias y acciones desarrolladas para promover y acompañar la transición de adolescentes desde el sistema de cuidados alternativos hacia la vida autónoma.

Aplicación de la metodología del proceso de manejo de casos: Informe en Guatemala

Changing the Way We Care, 01 Mar 2020

Este documento presenta el proceso, los resultados y las lecciones aprendidas durante la implementación de una iniciativa en Guatemala que instale buenas prácticas para la prevención de la separación familiar innecesaria y el fortalecimiento de las familias a través de las búsqueda y acercamiento de servicios sociales primarios y especializados.

Más autonomía, más derechos: Argentina

Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección y DONCEL, con Hope and Homes for Children y UNICEF, 01 Mar 2020

En este informe se presentan los resultados de la investigación llevada adelante en Argentina que tuvo por objetivo construir información sobre las principales políticas, medidas y acciones que se desarrollan a nivel regional orientadas a acompañar el egreso de adolescentes y jóvenes del sistema del cuidados alternativos e indagar respecto de su eficacia, efectividad, sostenibilidad y adecuación a un enfoque de derechos.

Más autonomía, más derechos: Colombia

Asociación Colombiana de Egreso de Protección Estatal (ASCEP), Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección, con DONCEL, Hope and Homes for Children y UNICEF, 01 Mar 2020

En este informe se presentan los resultados de la investigación llevada adelante en Colombia que tuvo por objetivo construir información sobre las principales políticas, medidas y acciones que se desarrollan a nivel regional orientadas a acompañar el egreso de adolescentes y jóvenes del sistema de cuidados alternativos e indagar respecto de su eficacia, efectividad, sostenibilidad y adecuación a un enfoque de derechos.

Más autonomía, más derechos: México

UDEM, UAMX, Fundación Pequeños Gigantes Mexicanos A.C., Red Latinoamericana de Egresados de Protección, con DONCEL, Hope and Homes for Children y UNICEF, 01 Mar 2020

En este informe se presentan los resultados de la investigación llevada adelante en México que tuvo por objetivo construir información sobre las principales políticas, medidas y acciones que se desarrollan a nivel regional orientadas a acompañar el egreso de adolescentes y jóvenes del sistema de cuidados alternativos e indagar respecto de su eficacia, efectividad, sostenibilidad y adecuación a un enfoque de derechos.

“If I’m Here, It’s Because I Do Not Have Anyone”: Social Support for the Biological Family during the Foster Care Process

Eduard Vaquero, M. Àngels Balsells, Carmen Ponce, Aida Urrea, Alicia Navajas - Social Sciences, 01 Mar 2020

The aims of this article were to identify the types and characteristics of social support for families in vulnerable situations and to analyze what elements influence families’ attitudes towards these supports.

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