A scoping review of the transition experiences and outcomes of young women leaving residential out-of-home care

Yujie Zhao, Jacinta Waugh, Philip Mendes

This scoping review analyzes 31 studies on young women leaving residential care worldwide, highlighting their unique gender-specific challenges such as early pregnancy and gender-based violence. Despite recurring patterns across contexts, research on this group remains limited, especially as they are often treated as a subset of broader studies, pointing to the need for more focused investigation.

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“You are nothing and you have nothing”: Exploring social justice for youth leaving care in African contexts

Berni Kelly, Adrian D. van Breda, Kwabena Frimpong-Manso

This article uses Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework to examine the experiences of youth leaving care in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, drawing on interviews with 45 care-leavers conducted by peer researchers. Findings reveal how intersecting injustices—such as stigma, exclusion, and lack of resources—undermine their transition to adulthood, underscoring the need for stronger aftercare services, recognition of diverse identities, and greater youth participation in shaping policy and support.

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A System Stretched Beyond Its Elastic Limits: The South African Foster Care Grant System

Sipho Sibanda

This review explores South Africa’s foster care grant system, highlighting how rising numbers of children in foster care have strained social workers and overwhelmed the system. It examines challenges such as lapsing foster care orders, dependency concerns, and unsustainable practices, while offering recommendations to strengthen the system and better support children and families.

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Placing Children in Residential Care: A Scoping Review of Decision-Making and Matching Criteria

Chiara Monti

This scoping review examines how social workers decide to place children in residential care and how facilities are selected, drawing on 10 global studies analyzed through the Decision-Making Ecology framework. Findings reveal that decisions are often shaped by a child’s age, clinical needs, and professional discretion, but frequently lack structured assessments, consistent child involvement, and reliable information—pointing to the need for stronger collaboration and research to support more child-centred practices.

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Enhancing child protection and care reform in Moldova through EU accession

Hope and Homes for Children

A round table in Brussels, co-hosted by Hope and Homes for Children and European Parliament Vice President Victor Negrescu, explored child protection and care reform in Moldova within the context of EU accession. The report highlights progress made, ongoing challenges, and shared commitments to ensuring every child in Moldova grows up in a safe and caring family.

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Kinship Care Mediation

Hannah Lawrence, Mia Johnson, Elizabeth Raws, et al.

Many children in kinship care face trauma, poverty, and strained family relationships, yet their carers often lack adequate support. This feasibility study of Family Solutions’ mediation and positive parenting intervention in South Hampshire, U.K. highlights promising approaches to strengthen communication, reduce conflict, and improve outcomes for kinship families.

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Towards a More Sustainable Future: Addressing Young Children and the Changing Climate—Promising Examples from Around the World

Joan Lombardi and Lauren Simmons

This working paper by Joan Lombardi, senior advisor to the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, and Lauren Simmons provides a brief overview of the risks and potential of early childhood and the changing climate and showcases a dozen innovative approaches where early childhood and climate sectors have successfully converged.

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