Aftercare youth or care leavers are amongst the most vulnerable section of the youth population but they have immense potential and require support and guidance to become resilient and independent citizens who can give back to society. This study aimed to highlight the challenges faced by care leavers due to the absence of or inadequate aftercare support during the transition, which increases care leavers’ vulnerabilities to homelessness, unemployment, substance misuse and ruptured social relationships.
The research used a mixed-method approach with a descriptive research design involved the participation of 435 care leavers and 100 key informants, including government functionaries, duty-bearers and civil society practitioners. The findings stated that upon turning 18 years of age, youth transitioning out of childcare institutions to independent life in India experience many challenges, such as securing housing and identity documents; accessing education, skill development and employment opportunities; garnering psychosocial support and financial stability. It also found that continued aftercare support is necessary to foster independent living skills in these young people and enable their reintegration into mainstream society.
Using the ‘Sphere of Aftercare’ framework, which identifies eight key areas of support, and the ‘Resilience Framework,’ the research revealed poor transition planning, unclear stakeholder roles, insufficient data tracking, and weak monitoring systems. The findings call for policy reforms, including creating Individual Aftercare Plans, increasing budget allocations, and amplifying care leavers’ voices to build stronger, more effective aftercare programmes.