Independence of foster care charges and their relations with the family

Abstract

The article presents the legal basis for the independence of foster care charges and the analysis of statistical information on independence in Warsaw in 2012–2019, in the period after the introduction of the Act on supporting the family and foster care. Part of the research carried out in a group of 52 young adults leaving foster families and care and educational facilities in Warsaw, describing their opinions on the reasons for which they were placed in foster care, their contacts with their parents and relations with their relatives, was also discussed.

Social support among young people in foster care as they move to independence and selected sociodemographic variables

“…Moreover, T. Refaeli (2017) points out that for young people moving to independence, parents may constitute an additional burden, both emotional and financial, manifested, among other things, in taking responsibility for caring for their parents and satisfying their material needs. The research by M. Kolankiewicz and J. Iwański (2021) indicates that young people leaving foster care rarely declare satisfaction with contacts with their parents, often denying the need to establish them. Hypothesis 2, assuming that women evaluate the social support they receive better, was confirmed.…”

“…Salazar et al, 2011). The use of available forms of institutional support for foster care pupils moving to independence (aid for moving to independence, continuing education, extending the stay in the current living environment after reaching the age of majority in order to continue education) indicate that family forms of foster care create better conditions for the development of those under their care than institutional ones (Kolankiewicz, Iwański, 2021). The analysis of the Central Statistical Office data (2023) shows that among those leaving the care environment, the persons who most often return to their families of origin are former leavers of care and educational institutions (37% compared to 7% of those under the care of family institutions).…”

“…Leaving foster care requires facing the need to plan one's own life path, especially choosing an educational path and profession, place of residence, building new social relationships and rebuilding family relationships. This is not an easy task for young people with difficult experiences of neglect or abuse (Golczyńska-Grondas, 2012;Kolankiewicz, Iwański, 2021). The research shows that the barriers of moving to independence of foster care leavers are of a varied nature.…”

“…Such assistance is more often used by young people from family forms of foster care (related, non-professional and professional foster families and family orphanages). Foster care leavers who move to independence from institutional foster care (regional care and therapeutic facilities and care and educational facilities of the following types: socialization, specialist-therapeutic and family) not only use assistance for becoming independent less often, but also leave the facilities sooner, continue their education less often, start work sooner and more often return to their family homes after reaching adulthood (Kolankiewicz, Iwański, 2021). It also turns out that such a wide scope of support provided to leavers is insufficient (Najwyższa Izba Kontroli, 2014;Abramowicz, Strzałkowska, Tobis, 2012;Mickiewicz-Stopa, 2016) and inadequate to contemporary socio-cultural and economic conditions, thus limiting the choice and change of life paths of care leavers (Kędzierska, 2020).…”

“…The highest percentage of those returning to family homes was recorded among former institutional foster care leavers (Central Statistical Office, 2023). It should be noted, however, that among those who have established their own households there are people who rent rooms or apartments or use sheltered apartments (Kolankiewicz, Iwański, 2021), available only until they obtain social or municipal housing. It is difficult to predict how many of them will however return to their parents in the future.…”