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To dream the impossible dream: Care leavers' challenges and barriers in pursuing their future expectations and goals

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  • Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is considered to be a period of many possibilities, expectations and aspirations for the future (Arnett, 2007). However, vulnerable young adults have fewer personal and social assets, which might limit their possibilities and goals. This exploratory study aims to investigate the challenges and barriers of 25 Israeli young adults who left care, while trying to realize their expectations and pursue their future plans. Thematic analysis revealed that these young peoples' perceptions of their future and their goal-setting are challenged mainly by their weak and unsupportive social ties, obligations to their biological parents, and poor personal capital. All of these challenges combined comprise a barrier to pursuing their future aspirations. The discussion addresses the connection between the challenges care leavers struggle with in their transition to independent living, their future outlook, and chosen paths in the context of emerging adulthood theory. Implications for practice suggest the importance of creating supportive follow up frameworks that allow care leavers to strengthen their social ties, build new positive and supportive relationships, and consult about future decisions, in order to increase their future possibilities and opportunities.

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  • Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2017. "To dream the impossible dream: Care leavers' challenges and barriers in pursuing their future expectations and goals," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 332-339.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:81:y:2017:i:c:p:332-339
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.08.025
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    1. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2015. "Do they get what they expect?: The connection between young adults' future expectations before leaving care and outcomes after leaving care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 193-200.
    2. Zeira, Anat & Benbenishty, Rami, 2011. "Readiness for independent living of adolescents in youth villages in Israel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2461-2468.
    3. 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.
    4. Munson, Michelle R. & Lee, Bethany R. & Miller, David & Cole, Andrea & Nedelcu, Cristina, 2013. "Emerging adulthood among former system youth: The ideal versus the real," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 923-929.
    5. 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.
    6. Benbenishty, Rami & Schiff, Miriam, 2009. "Perceptions of readiness to leave care among adolescents in foster care in Israel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 662-669, June.
    7. Ward, Harriet, 2011. "Continuities and discontinuities: Issues concerning the establishment of a persistent sense of self amongst care leavers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2512-2518.
    8. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2014. "Care leavers' challenges in transition to independent living," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 38-46.
    9. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit & Benbenishty, Rami, 2011. "Future expectations of adolescents in residential care in Israel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1134-1141, July.
    10. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stubbs, Alix & Baidawi, Susan & Mendes, Philip, 2023. "Young people transitioning from out-of-home care: their experience of informal support. A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    2. Bond, Sue & van Breda, Adrian, 2018. "Interaction between possible selves and the resilience of care-leavers in South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 88-95.
    3. Dumont, Annie & Lanctôt, Nadine & Paquette, Geneviève, 2022. "“I had a shitty past; I want a great future.”: Hopes and fears of vulnerable adolescent girls aging out of care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2020. "Challenges in the transition to adulthood of young-adult Arabs who graduated from residential facilities in Israel," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    5. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit & Melkman, Eran, 2018. "Risk and resilience in the transition to adulthood from the point of view of care leavers and caseworkers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 135-140.
    6. Kaim, Zeev & Romi, Shlomo, 2021. "Work and family in normative and at-risk adolescents’ perception of their future," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    7. Itzhaki-Braun, Yael & Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2022. "Determination of life satisfaction among young women care leavers from the Ultraorthodox Jewish community," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).

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