The contribution of resilience to one-year independent living outcomes of care-leavers in South Africa

Breda, Adrian D. van; Dickens, Lisa

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.11.009

Cited by 44 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The fact that family relationships are lasting and unquestioned despite periods of lack of contact seems to give young people who have spent time in care a feeling of continuity and affiliation; this "sense of permanency" is conducive to their healthy development and identity construction (Collins et al, 2008). Family relationships have been recognised as "identity capital" (Mann-Feder, 2019, p. 16) and as an important element of "social capital" that predicts positive outcomes and resilience in the status passage of leaving care (van Breda & Dickens, 2017). Conversely, Stein (2008) identified the lack of a "sense of family" and a failure to understand damaging experiences with the family as the main barriers to identity construction and to having the ability to "psychologically 'move on' and look to the future" after leaving care (p. 295).…”

Section: The Role Of "Images Of the Family" In Guiding Care Leavers' mentioning

confidence: 99%

Care Leavers’ Perspectives on the Family in the Transition From Out-of-Home Care to Independent Living

Sting

Groinig

2020

IJCYFS

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Findings from youth research have shown that, due to the development of the transitional phase of “emerging adulthood”, the family has become increasingly significant for young adults as a source of support and as a safety net. In contrast, care leavers are confronted with a relatively abrupt transition to independent living. However, international studies have shown that the family also plays a significant role during the status passage of leaving care — as an arena of concrete social relationships, as a normative model and ideal, as a biographical experience and memory, as a connection to family traditions and practices, and as an important contextual factor for resilience and identity formation. The first section of this paper describes the various links between care leavers and their families based on a literature review. In the second section, the biographical relevance of the family is highlighted based on the example of a qualitative interview study about the educational pathways of 20- to 27-year-old care leavers. The study shows the various influences of family links on the educational careers of young people during and after out-of-home care. From the findings, we derive some consequences for professional work with families in out-of-home care and for professional support and guidance during the status passage of leaving care.

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Section: The Role Of "Images Of the Family" In Guiding Care Leavers' mentioning

confidence: 99%

Care Leavers’ Perspectives on the Family in the Transition From Out-of-Home Care to Independent Living

Sting

Groinig

2020

IJCYFS

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“…Care leavers have been found to struggle to make this transition in the absence of support (Bond, 2018). Scholars have highlighted the need for care leavers to have a strong social support network in their immediate environments (e.g., Tanur, 2012; Van Breda & Dickens, 2017). This support network often includes family, friends, and kin or extended family.…”

Section: Family and Leaving Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing the Meaning of “Family” in the Context of Out-of-Home Care: An Exploratory Study on Residential Care Leavers in Harare, Zimbabwe

Gwenzi

2018

Emerging Adulthood

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Care leavers’ family lives are not well-documented in Global South literature. The West has seen an increase in studies focusing on the family concept. This article focuses on the concept of “family” and family membership from the perspective of care leavers. Data from semistructured interviews and “family lists” with 30 care leavers (aged 18–25) from Zimbabwe are presented. The findings suggest that although there is evidence of heteronormative definitions of “family” and ideas of “family” as biological, new definitions are coming up in the developing world. Some participants acknowledge nonbiological definitions of family based on connectivity, co-residence, affective practices, family contact, and other forms of family display in the context of out-of-home care. The Zimbabwean cultural influence is highlighted as a factor in care leavers’ constructions of “family” especially during the emerging adulthood stage. Practical implications for social policy, those working with care leavers, and wider society are discussed.

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“…These two tools assessed indicators measured dichotomously (such as NEET) and 11 on a continuous scale (such as financial security). Table 1 provides the indicator names and definitions (van Breda & Dickens, 2017, p. 267).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where these youth have slower and more extended transitions, SA youth are forced out of care, with little support, at a young age and into difficult circumstances. Despite these challenges, some care leavers have shown to do well (Dickens, 2017) and show resilience (van Breda & Dickens, 2017) because of their ability to network and build both formal and informal relationships.…”

Section: Theoretical Background and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

NEET as an Outcome for Care Leavers in South Africa: The Case of Girls and Boys Town

Dickens

Marx

2018

Emerging Adulthood

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A well-documented outcome for emerging adults in determining their “success” is whether they are Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) or engaged in Education, Employment, and Training (EET). Being NEET can create psychological, emotional, financial, and health challenges and is a significant risk factor in youth making successful transitions into adulthood. This article describes and compares the NEET and EET status of care leavers from Girls and Boys Town after 1 and 2 years and in relation to other outcomes. The results suggest that while care leavers’ NEET rates are high, they are not significantly higher than those of the South African general population as seen elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, being NEET is associated with more negative care leaving outcomes than being EET; however, this article also highlights the vulnerability of those who are EET. Relationships with family and support networks play a critical role in helping and supporting these youth.

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The contribution of resilience to one-year independent living outcomes of care-leavers in South Africa

Cited by 44 publications

References 23 publications

Care Leavers’ Perspectives on the Family in the Transition From Out-of-Home Care to Independent Living

Care Leavers’ Perspectives on the Family in the Transition From Out-of-Home Care to Independent Living

Constructing the Meaning of “Family” in the Context of Out-of-Home Care: An Exploratory Study on Residential Care Leavers in Harare, Zimbabwe

NEET as an Outcome for Care Leavers in South Africa: The Case of Girls and Boys Town

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