Who Is There For Me? Evaluating the Social Support Received by Adolescent Girls Transitioning From Institutional Care in Zimbabwe

Mhongera, Pamhidzayi Berejena; Lombard, Antoinette

doi:10.1080/09503153.2016.1185515

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Research examining children's experiences of residential care in these contexts, including orphanages and other types of institutional care, highlight the large social networks and extensive peer relationships that characterize daily life. Children have large, mixed-age peer groups and describe these relationships as caring, supportive, mutually beneficial and deep (Carpenter, 2015;Emond, 2010;Fournier et al, 2014;Hong et al, 2015;Khoo et al, 2015;Mhongera & Lombard, 2017). Children living in residential care in low-and middleincome contexts hold broad conceptualizations of family, due to often having multiple carers and differing contexts of care across their lives, and irregular or no contact with biological family members (Roche, 2019a).…”

Section: Children and Young People's Relationships And Social Network While Living In Residential Carementioning

confidence: 99%

‘They became my second family’: Children's relational lives and relationship‐based practice in residential care in the Philippines

Roche

Flynn

Mendes

2021

Child & Family Social Work

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Despite the widespread utilization of residential care in the Philippines, little is known about the lives and circumstances of children living within these contexts. In response, this article presents an analysis of children and young people's experiences of living in residential care, specifically focusing on their social networks, relationships and the relationship-based practices of their caregivers. Drawing on 50 qualitative interviews with children and young people currently or previously living in residential care, as well as a range of social workers and programme staff, this study identifies the highly relational lives of children and young people who cite extensive and close relationships with residential care staff, peers and family. Analysis reveals that children conceptualize 'family' as embodied in their residential care programme, drawing attention to the collective support and security offered, while also detailing the role of their spirituality as an important support. Relationship-based practices are utilized by caregivers who offer long-term, emotionally close and stable relationships with children to support their well-being. These findings highlight the centrality of relationship-based interventions and the maintenance of children's relational lives as a core practice, offering insights into the development of practice in these settings.

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Section: Children and Young People's Relationships And Social Network While Living In Residential Carementioning

confidence: 99%

‘They became my second family’: Children's relational lives and relationship‐based practice in residential care in the Philippines

Roche

Flynn

Mendes

2021

Child & Family Social Work

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“…Much research includes both males and females, but few refer to gender differences (e.g., McMahon & Fields, 2015). Studies that sample women tend to focus on women's postcare outcomes (e.g., Zeller & Köngeter, 2012) or views of services (e.g., Berejena Mhongera & Lombard, 2017; Takele & Kotecho, 2020). There has been very little attention to the psychosocial processes that women engage in as they journey towards independence.…”

Section: Female Care Leaversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female care leavers' journey to young adulthood from residential care in South Africa: Gender‐specific psychosocial processes of resilience

Hlungwani

Breda

2020

Child & Family Social Work

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The journey from care to young adulthood is often accompanied by many challenges, making care leavers one of society's most vulnerable populations. Although research on young people leaving residential care is gaining increased attention globally, there is limited research that focuses on female care leavers. This article describes the psychosocial resilience processes that facilitate successful transitioning of young women as they journey out of residential care towards young adulthood. The methodology employed is a modified replication of a previous study with young men, with the aim of determining whether women utilize resilience processes in the journey out of care that are different from men. A sample of nine female care leavers was purposively selected and interviewed. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods. The findings indicate that although similar resilience processes are found in both male and female care leavers, there are also resilience processes that are specific to women, notably embracing motherhood and taking on responsibilities. It is concluded that resilience-building programmes for young people leaving care should attend both to males and females together and also address issues specific to the care transition of women.

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“…Young people reported that, in the transition process, they were offered the wrong type of support ("pointless") at best, or had support "forced" upon them at worst (Hiles et al, 2014). Support was given, rather than negotiated, and in the process, the young people's wishes or knowledge regarding their personal needs were not heard (Berejena Mhongera,& Lombard, 2017;Frimpong-Manso, 2012;Hiles et al, 2014).…”

Section: Experiences Of the Support Received From Aftercare For The Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Care leavers have also reported successful formal support received in the transition process through children's villages, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, private organizations and people appointed by social service organizations (Berejena Mhongera, & Lombard, 2017;Dutta, 2017;Frimpong-Manso, 2017;Höjer, & Sjöblom, 2014;Nho et al, 2017). Formal support was mainly financial and material support such as tuition fees, scholarships, living allowances, health care services and housing support (Dutta, 2017;Frimpong-Manso, 2017;Nho et al, 2017).…”

Section: Successful Formal and Informal Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Formal support was mainly financial and material support such as tuition fees, scholarships, living allowances, health care services and housing support (Dutta, 2017;Frimpong-Manso, 2017;Nho et al, 2017). Significant informal support had been given by churches, facility directors, public school teachers, adult support persons, in-care and alumni peers, parents or relatives, partners and friends in the new community (Anghel, 2011;Berejena Mhongera, & Lombard, 2017;Dutta, 2017, Frimpong-Manso, 2017Nho et al, 2017;Paulsen, & Berg, 2016;Rutman, & Hubberstey, 2016). These agents provided care leavers with opportunities to participate in society and helped them by providing advice as…”

Section: Successful Formal and Informal Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chitosan/Ag-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite beads as a potential adsorbent for the efficient removal of toxic aquatic pollutants

Iqbal

Zhu

et al. 2018

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

107

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The transition to adult life of looked-after young people depends on a combination and interaction of multiple contributing factors such as past experiences, challenges faced by the young people in their current life situation, the support they have received and their personal strengths. Several reviews and studies have reported of poor outcomes for care leavers and indicate that this is a worldwide phenomenon. A lower level of support in the transition process increases the risk for social exclusion, homelessness, unemployment, low education, financial difficulties and behavioral problems. The aim of this review was to gather, assess and synthesize the current empirical evidence of transition to adult life from the perspective of young people leaving foster care. A systematic review was conducted in six scientific databases to identify relevant qualitative studies published from 2010 to 2017, and 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the checklist for qualitative studies of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2017). Data were analyzed using a narrative method. Care leavers had two views of their transition to adult life. The views differed clearly based on the care leavers' experiences of their capabilities, emotions and identity. The care leaving process was described as an unprepared and unfocused process which provided the care leavers no opportunities for participating in the decision-making concerning their future. The young people had acquired few survival skills for independent living in aftercare. Care leavers often lacked the support of family members, former care providers and institutional bodies. The challenges young people often faced during the transition to independent living were concerned with academic qualifications, housing problems, employment and financial instability, building relationships and assimilating to cultural norms, and access to health care. The results of the review can be utilized in the development of services and in designing future studies.

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Who Is There For Me? Evaluating the Social Support Received by Adolescent Girls Transitioning From Institutional Care in Zimbabwe

Cited by 13 publications

References 8 publications

‘They became my second family’: Children's relational lives and relationship‐based practice in residential care in the Philippines

‘They became my second family’: Children's relational lives and relationship‐based practice in residential care in the Philippines

Female care leavers' journey to young adulthood from residential care in South Africa: Gender‐specific psychosocial processes of resilience

Chitosan/Ag-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite beads as a potential adsorbent for the efficient removal of toxic aquatic pollutants

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