How can post-care services contribute to alleviating economic and social disadvantage for young people leaving care?

Unemployment among 40% of young people constitutes a very serious issue in Spain. The situation of children and young people belonging to disadvantaged groups of the population should be a priority for policy and practice.... [ view full abstract ]

Unemployment among 40% of young people constitutes a very serious issue in Spain. The situation of children and young people belonging to disadvantaged groups of the population should be a priority for policy and practice. Young people leaving care or with a care background are often within this group. The international research points to the socio-economic disadvantage and marginal outcomes experienced by young people who had left the care system, overrepresented in social indicators such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, delinquency, and adolescent pregnancy. A research project conducted in Catalonia (Spain) to assess the types of interventions undertaken by the post-care services from 1994 to 2012 was carried out. It was commissioned by The Catalan government and the Federation of Organizations with Projects and Assisted Apartments (FEPA) with the following aims: (a) to determine the evolution and current situation of young people leaving care, (b) to understand their situation, identifying factors that facilitate and obstruct the processes of emancipation, (c) to evaluate these young people’s passage through post care services, (d) to make recommendations to enhance outcomes. A mixed-method approach was used: (a) a secondary analysis of previously existing data on the program database (N=5,538), (b) a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with young people and focus groups with young people (N=49) and professionals (N=10), and (c) a quantitative study administering a questionnaire to all professionals working with the age groups 16-18 and 18-21 (N=218). The data for the period 1994-2012 show positive results, with half of the young people who have passed through the program achieving emancipation in a satisfactory manner. Satisfaction among both users and the professionals working in the services was also high. Young people and professionals give importance to factors related to: (i) the inclusion of young people within the formal education system, which requires greater coordination between the Social Welfare department and the Education department, (ii) a firm commitment and improved expectations towards this group from micro to macro level iii) support for professionals working with these young people in terms of managing emotions (iv) receiving more personalized attention and establishing close and stable ties with young people, (v) providing them with greater stability on their life pathways (vi) working on the personal and social autonomy, making them more responsible and participants in their own process and in the community, including housing assistance and financial support. Some recommendations have been made based on the findings as: (i) improvements are needed in the data collection system to evaluate the outcomes, and (ii) there is an urgent need to diversify the range of services offered in order to reach more care leavers, especially those with a disability, mental illness, behavioural problems or others excluded from the current programs.