Youth Transition Residential to Independent Community

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The transition to adulthood is a crucial time in any youth's development. Gaining an education, finding a job, a mate, and becoming a parent are all milestones toward adulthood. Residential care is the most restrictive placement, for children and adolescents who cannot be maintained safely in community settings. While in residential placements all of the adolescents' basic needs are met, and adolescents are provided with a great deal of medical, educational, psychological, and social support. The homeless population in European society has changed significantly during the last half-century. Because homeless youth have no such support system, they must rely on an unbending belief in their own abilities to successfully navigate path to adulthood.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT1

DECLARATION2

ABSTRACT3

SECTION A: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Youth Transitions5

Issues and concerns of residential youth population6

Transition from residential to individual living8

Aspiration for transition from residential to individual9

UK Social Policy10

SECTION B: PROPOSAL12

Background of the study12

Rationale of the study12

Research Question13

Aim of the study13

Objectives of the study13

SECTION C: EVALUATION OF RESEARCH15

Purpose15

Aim15

Research Design16

Data Collection16

Data Analysis17

Ethical Issues17

Conclusion17

REFERENCES18

SECTION A: LITERATURE REVIEW

Residential care is the most restrictive placement, for children and adolescents who cannot be maintained safely in community settings. While in residential placements all of the adolescents' basic needs are met, and adolescents are provided with a great deal of medical, educational, psychological, and social support. However, once these children leave residential treatment centers the degree of support decreases, and many of these adolescents are left to "fend for themselves." The following literature review will explore the outcomes for adolescents who age out of child welfare programs, the skills necessary to transition successfully to adulthood from these programs, and methods of service delivery to help prepare adolescents in care for the transition to less restrictive settings. For young people today, the increasing demand for education as well as changing norms regarding marriage and childbearing have all prolonged the transition to adulthood (Fussell, 2005, pp.29). This elongation has forced the European family to support their children for longer periods of time (Furstenberg, 2004, pp.42). Youth often rely on their parents to not only pay for post secondary education, but also to subsidize rent and other amenities once education has ended. This increasing reliance on parental support is problematic for many youths, particularly homeless youths, as their families simply do not, or cannot, support them in this way.

Youth Transitions

Young adulthood is a time of significant transitions and adjustments in the life cycle. However, typical challenges of young adulthood are compounded for those who have spent time in out of home placements and have limited resources, supports, knowledge, skills, ...