IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsoctx/v14y2024i8p147-d1453124.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Transition to Adulthood from the Perspective of Former Foster Youth: A Socio-Educational Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Pedro Alemán Ramos

    (Departament of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Paula Morales Almeida

    (Departament of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Miriam Brito Sánchez

    (Social Educator, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain)

Abstract

Background: The transition to adulthood is especially critical for young people who have been in the child protection system, as they face significant challenges in areas such as education, mental health, employment, and economics. Methods: This qualitative study examines the perceptions of 20 young adults from Spain who have exited the child protection system regarding their transition to adulthood. Structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed using IRAMuTeQ software to identify thematic patterns. Results: The young adults reported inadequate preparation and a need for ongoing support, and they faced challenges in areas such as housing, employment, financial education, and mental health. They emphasized the importance of social and emotional support networks for successful adaptation. The results reveal a deficit in training programs and structural support, suggesting the need for a review of existing Spanish policies. Conclusions: Social educators play a crucial role in facilitating the transition to adulthood for young people who have been in protective systems in Spain, providing emotional support and resources to aid in their integration and autonomy. Effective coordination between institutional actors and Spanish society is vital to ensure a successful transition to adulthood.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Alemán Ramos & Paula Morales Almeida & Miriam Brito Sánchez, 2024. "The Transition to Adulthood from the Perspective of Former Foster Youth: A Socio-Educational Approach," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:14:y:2024:i:8:p:147-:d:1453124
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/8/147/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/8/147/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Melkman, Eran P. & Benbenishty, Rami, 2018. "Social support networks of care leavers: Mediating between childhood adversity and adult functioning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 176-187.
    2. Groinig, Maria & Sting, Stephan, 2019. "Educational pathways in and out of child and youth care. The importance of orientation frameworks that guide care leavers' actions along their educational pathway," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 42-49.
    3. Stein, Mike, 2006. "Young people aging out of care: The poverty of theory," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 422-434, April.
    4. Artamonova, Alyona & Guerreiro, Maria das Dores & Höjer, Ingrid, 2020. "Time and context shaping the transition from out-of-home care to adulthood in Portugal," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    5. Emily Miller & Tahereh Ziaian & Helena de Anstiss & Melanie Baak, 2022. "Ecologies of Resilience for Australian High School Students from Refugee Backgrounds: Quantitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    6. DuBois, D.L. & Silverthorn, N., 2005. "Natural mentoring relationships and adolescent health: Evidence from a national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(3), pages 518-524.
    7. Häggman-Laitila, Arja & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Karki, Suyen, 2018. "Transition to adult life of young people leaving foster care: A qualitative systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 134-143.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    2. Glynn, Natalie, 2021. "Understanding care leavers as youth in society: A theoretical framework for studying the transition out of care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    3. Okland, Idun & Oterholm, Inger, 2022. "Strengthening supportive networks for care leavers: A scoping review of social support interventions in child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    4. Eyal-Lubling, Roni & Prior, Ayelet & Peled, Einat & Shilo, Guy, 2024. "What promotes engagement in formal and informal help relationships? Perspectives of commercially sexually exploited youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. John Fowler & Mark Zachry & David W. McDonald, 2023. "Policy Recommendations from an Empirical Study of an Online Foster Care Community," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(5), pages 2033-2054, October.
    6. Havlicek, Judy, 2011. "Lives in motion: A review of former foster youth in the context of their experiences in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1090-1100, July.
    7. Gabriela Dima, 2011. "Coping with leaving public care and the challenges of transition to independent living," BlackSea Journal of Psychology, Ovidius University of Constanta, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, vol. 3(1), pages 75-91, May.
    8. Zinn, Andrew & Palmer, Ashley N. & Nam, Eunji, 2017. "Developmental heterogeneity of perceived social support among former foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 51-58.
    9. Hiles, Dominic & Moss, Duncan & Thorne, Lisa & Wright, John & Dallos, Rudi, 2014. "“So what am I?” — Multiple perspectives on young people's experience of leaving care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-15.
    10. van Breda, Adrian D. & Dickens, Lisa, 2017. "The contribution of resilience to one-year independent living outcomes of care-leavers in South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 264-273.
    11. Barn, Ravinder & Tan, Jo-Pei, 2015. "Foster youth and drug use: Exploring risk and protective factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 107-115.
    12. Bengtsson, Mattias & Sjöblom, Yvonne & Öberg, Peter, 2020. "Transitional patterns when leaving care – Care leavers’ agency in a longitudinal perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    13. Brännström, Lars & Karlsson, Henrik & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2018. "Childhood risk factors for disability pension among adult former Swedish child welfare clients: Same or different as for majority population peers?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 94-102.
    14. Sourk, Meredith & Weiler, Lindsey M. & Cavell, Timothy A., 2019. "Risk, support, and reasons for wanting a mentor: Comparing parents of youth in community versus school-based matches," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 156-164.
    15. Barn, Ravinder & Tan, Jo-Pei, 2012. "Foster youth and crime: Employing general strain theory to promote understanding," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 212-220.
    16. Calheiros, Maria Manuela & Patrício, Joana Nunes & Graça, João, 2013. "Staff and youth views on autonomy and emancipation from residential care: A participatory research study," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 57-66.
    17. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2016. "In between formal and informal: Staff and youth relationships in care and after leaving care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 43-49.
    18. 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.
    19. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2017. "Barriers and resources in transition to adulthood among at-risk young adults," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 147-152.
    20. Munson, Michelle R. & McMillen, J. Curtis, 2009. "Natural mentoring and psychosocial outcomes among older youth transitioning from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 104-111, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:14:y:2024:i:8:p:147-:d:1453124. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.