Supports urged for young people leaving care

Social worker research has indicated that the lives of young people leaving care at 18 could be improved if more supports were in place to help them through “a distinct life phase” rather than assuming they became an adult on turning 18.

The study, entitled The Transition to Adulthood, was conducted by a Tusla social work team leader, Alison Browne, as part of a programme within the agency encouraging practitioners to incorporate research into their daily practice.

Ms Browne reviewed literature looking at the issues children in care experience as they transition to adulthood and found that while many people are happy to be leaving the care system at 18, the “emerging adulthood” phase sometimes brought uncertainty and setbacks.