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When young people in and leaving state care become parents: What happens and why?

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  • Roberts, Louise
  • Maxwell, Nina
  • Elliott, Martin

Abstract

This paper is concerned with outcomes for young parents in and leaving care and draws on findings from a post-doctoral fellowship study conducted within the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) at Cardiff University. Over the course of the research, 258 parents in and leaving care were identified aged between 16 and 21 were identified by 20 out of the 22 local authorities in Wales. These parents had a total of 238 children and there were 44 on-going pregnancies. 74% of children were living with at least one biological parent, however 26% of children identified in the study were separated from their parents at the time of data collection; 10% of children were in the care of local authority carers, 9% with adoptive carers and a further 7% living with friends and family. Interviews with social care professionals suggested that success in parenthood is possible for young people in and leaving care if they are prepared to do ‘whatever is required’. Typically, this meant engaging with professionals, evidencing personal responsibility and demonstrating a commitment to positive parenting. Yet despite such emphasis on individual choice and determination, a wide range of support needs were identified by professionals and it was acknowledged that young people had limited control over key factors influencing parenting success.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberts, Louise & Maxwell, Nina & Elliott, Martin, 2019. "When young people in and leaving state care become parents: What happens and why?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:104:y:2019:i:c:23
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104387
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roberts, Louise & Long, Sara Jayne & Young, Honor & Hewitt, Gillian & Murphy, Simon & Moore, Graham F., 2018. "Sexual health outcomes for young people in state care: Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 281-288.
    2. Matta Oshima, Karen M. & Narendorf, Sarah Carter & McMillen, J. Curtis, 2013. "Pregnancy risk among older youth transitioning out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1760-1765.
    3. King, Bryn & Putnam-Hornstein, Emily & Cederbaum, Julie A. & Needell, Barbara, 2014. "A cross-sectional examination of birth rates among adolescent girls in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 179-186.
    4. Radey, Melissa & Schelbe, Lisa & McWey, Lenore M. & Holtrop, Kendal & Canto, Angela I., 2016. "“It's really overwhelming”: Parent and service provider perspectives of parents aging out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Roberts, Louise & Meakings, Sarah & Forrester, Donald & Smith, Audra & Shelton, Katherine, 2017. "Care-leavers and their children placed for adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 355-361.
    6. Svoboda, Deborah V. & Shaw, Terry V. & Barth, Richard P. & Bright, Charlotte Lyn, 2012. "Pregnancy and parenting among youth in foster care: A review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 867-875.
    7. James, Sigrid & Montgomery, Susanne B. & Leslie, Laurel K. & Zhang, Jinjin, 2009. "Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 990-1000, September.
    8. Biehal, Nina & Wade, Jim, 1996. "Looking back, looking forward: Care leavers, families and change," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 425-445.
    9. Haight, Wendy & Finet, Dayna & Bamba, Sachiko & Helton, Jesse, 2009. "The beliefs of resilient African-American adolescent mothers transitioning from foster care to independent living: A case-based analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 53-62, January.
    10. Sala Roca, Josefina & Jariot García, Mercè & Villalba Biarnés, Andreu & Rodríguez, Montserrat, 2009. "Analysis of factors involved in the social inclusion process of young people fostered in residential care institutions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1251-1257, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bilson, Andy & Bywaters, Paul, 2020. "Born into care: Evidence of a failed state," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Roberts, Louise & Rees, Alyson & Mannay, Dawn & Bayfield, Hannah & Corliss, Cindy & Diaz, Clive & Vaughan, Rachael, 2021. "Corporate parenting in a pandemic: Considering the delivery and receipt of support to care leavers in Wales during Covid-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    3. Samani, Amanda & Psouni, Elia, 2024. "Playing with the child within: Early parenthood experiences of parents who were out-of-home placed during childhood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Sam Parsons & Ingrid Schoon, 2021. "Descriptive profile of mothers by their experience of out-of-home care in childhood: evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study," DoQSS Working Papers 21-34, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.

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