Transitioning to adulthood is challenging. For young people raised in youth care, this is even more difficult as they often have a limited social network. Existing research indicates that having a stable social network is crucial for youth leaving care in achieving a successful transition into adulthood. However, it remains unclear how the involvement of social networks in transitional programmes for care leavers leads to successful outcomes. To address this ‘how’ question, this study conducted a realist review through a systematic search in five databases to find peer-reviewed studies (PubMed, Web of Science, SAGE Journals, ERIC, and ProQuest), and in Google Scholar to add also grey literature. This search resulted in 14 relevant studies. The study applied a realist framework, more specifically the CIMO-framework to identify relevant mechanisms, and verified results with different stakeholders.
The study identified nine key mechanisms that underpin successful outcomes for care leavers in transitional programmes: emphasising strong relationships through natural mentoring, stability, building trust and confidence, addressing trauma awareness, ownership in decision-making, fostering a feeling of belonging, facilitating peer support, internalising social skills and enhancing positive self-identity. These mechanisms highlight the significance of time, trust, emotional support, and the interdependence framework in supporting care leavers. Ultimately, recognising the value of informal support figures and the importance of interdependence can significantly enhance the success of transitional programmes for care leavers as these support figures can help to navigate the challenges of emerging adulthood.