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Why youth leave care: Understandings of adulthood and transition successes and challenges among youth aging out of child welfare

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  • Goodkind, Sara
  • Schelbe, Lisa A.
  • Shook, Jeffrey J.

Abstract

Child welfare policies and practices are changing to allow more youth to remain in care beyond age 18. Yet, the majority of youth do not stay. Given recent evidence suggesting that remaining in care may be beneficial, there is a need to understand why youth leave. Using data gathered from in-depth interviews with young people aging out of care, this paper explores this question, relating it to youths' understandings of adulthood and the successes and challenges they face during their transitions. We find that youth leave care because of misunderstanding and misinformation about the requirements for remaining in care, as well as because of a desire for autonomy and independence. Specifically, many youth equated adulthood with independence, and thus felt that they needed to leave care to achieve adulthood. Unfortunately, these efforts to be independent often hinder youths' development of supportive relationships, which they reported to be one of the greatest challenges in their transitions. Based on these findings, we conclude by challenging the conflation of adulthood and independence, as well as of childhood and dependence, calling for connected autonomy as a goal for child welfare involved young people of all ages.

Suggested Citation

  • Goodkind, Sara & Schelbe, Lisa A. & Shook, Jeffrey J., 2011. "Why youth leave care: Understandings of adulthood and transition successes and challenges among youth aging out of child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1039-1048, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:33:y:2011:i:6:p:1039-1048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuels, Gina Miranda & Pryce, Julia M., 2008. ""What doesn't kill you makes you stronger": Survivalist self-reliance as resilience and risk among young adults aging out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1198-1210, October.
    2. Mech, Edmund V. & Ludy-Dobson, Christine & Hulseman, Frances Spann, 1994. "Life-skills knowledge: A survey of foster adolescents in three placement settings," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(3-4), pages 181-200.
    3. Sarri, Rosemary & Finn, Janet, 1992. "Child welfare policy and practice: Rethinking the history of our certainties," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(3-4), pages 219-236.
    4. Geenen, Sarah & Powers, Laurie E., 2007. ""Tomorrow is another problem": The experiences of youth in foster care during their transition into adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1085-1101, August.
    5. McCoy, Henrika & McMillen, J. Curtis & Spitznagel, Edward L., 2008. "Older youth leaving the foster care system: Who, what, when, where, and why?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 735-745, July.
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