International B est P ractice SSPA Seminar Series 2013 Dr Nicola Atwool Senior Lecturer University of Otago Overview Outcomes for care leavers New Zealand research on care leavers ID: 329774
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "T he Transition from State/NGO Care to A..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
The Transition from State/NGO Care to Adulthood:International Best Practice
SSPA Seminar Series 2013
Dr
Nicola Atwool, Senior Lecturer, University of
OtagoSlide2
OverviewOutcomes for care leaversNew Zealand research on care leavers
What makes a difference?
Where are we in New Zealand?
Current challengesWhat’s happening in your area?The way forwardSlide3
Outcomes for care leaversAcross the English-speaking world there is evidence of poor outcomes for care leavers in all domains of their lives:AccommodationEducational attainmentEmployment and Income
Social support and family relationships
Physical and mental health
Alcohol and substance abuseOffendingVictimisationEarly entry to parenthoodSlide4
New Zealand researchInternationally attention has been focused on the needs of care leavers since the 1980sFirst New Zealand research was published in 2000
There have been no prospective longitudinal studies of care leavers in New Zealand
Trish Ward’s
analysis of the case files of 35 16 year olds as at 1 April 1997 demonstrated that, like their counterparts in other countries, they were a highly vulnerable group ill-prepared for independent living
63% of case files made no reference to pending independence
29% of Orders were discharged early
Deborah Yates’ in
-depth exploration of the experience of 8 care leavers reinforced these
findings and the picture that emerged was very similar to that provided by international research. Slide5
Impetus for changeIn his December 2000 Ministerial review of Child, Youth and Family Mick Brown recommended that consideration be given to 16 year-olds in care with insufficient support being placed in the guardianship of the Chief Executive and supported constructively through their transition to adulthood at least to the age of 20
Cousins (2000) reviewed best practice models for young people leaving care and recommended two models developed in the UK and Australia as appropriate for NZ
Cousins also highlighted the lack of specific legislative provision for services for care leaversSlide6
More recent researchFitzgerald, Mortlock & Jeffs
(2006) reported on interviews with 7 care leavers in
Christchurch:
All described having little support at the time they left careRecommended changes that could be implemented including
:
life
skills, mentors, support to continue education and ongoing care to age 25 if needed.
Pania
Coote
(2007) interviewed 5 care leavers in Southland. Findings were very similar to those of Ward and Yates.
Focused
on loss of connection with family and recommendations included revisiting
Puao-te-ata-tu
, more emphasis on family connection and transition planning
.
Leoni
(2007) interviewed 8 care leavers and 10 professionals and community members. Her findings indicate similar levels of difficulty and 2 participants had become isolated from
whānau
during their time in care and remained so.Slide7
Other evidenceThe Welfare Working Group reported in 2010 that those most at risk of long-term welfare dependence (around 2,400) enter the system through Independent Youth Benefit, Emergency Maintenance Allowance or Domestic Purposes benefit before the age of 18.60% of that group were reported to have had previous contact with, or were in the care of, CYF
MSD (2011) reports that most people at high risk of life-course persistent offending were known to CYF before entering the corrections system.
People with CYF records account for 80% of those imprisoned by age 20.Slide8
Other evidenceECPAT Child Alert (2010) interviewed 13 young people engaged in under-age prostitutionSix identified having been in the care of Child, Youth and FamilyOf these m
any
were homeless and living on the streets at the time they began
Two had been involved with prostitution from the age of 12, three at 14, and one at 16Slide9
Questions, comments, issuesAn opportunity for questions, comments or issues before we move on to looking at what makes a differenceSlide10
What makes a difference?Legislative and Policy frameworks supporting the transition from careLiving Skills programmes prior to leaving care have value but are not enough
Specialist teams and the provision of Personal Advisers
Continuing care
Financial support to enable young people to remain with foster carers after 18 and until 21Safe, secure accommodationA range of options allowing for a graduated transition including supervised group living, live-in carer
, supported independent accommodation, lead tenant, and foyer housing Slide11
What makes a difference?Employment and Education assistanceWorks best as part of holistic programmeSecure accommodation is essential to enable participation
Permanent connection to committed adults
Permanency for teenagers
Youth connections projectsSpecialist ServicesMore likely to work with more disadvantaged young peopleImprove accommodation outcomes and assist with life skills
Limited impact on other outcomes
Highest rates of success achieved with comprehensive support including case management, accommodation support, living skills, links to education and training, support to rebuild connections with family, and practical and material supportSlide12
Critical FactorsExtending care beyond the age of 18Care leaving is regarded as a process not an event3 distinct phases: leaving; transition; integration into new positionEstablishing and consolidating personal identity is a key aspect of the developmental transition to adulthood
Particularly challenging for care leavers if they do not have a coherent narrative of their lives or have unresolved trauma
Must have access to information
Independence vs inter-dependenceWe are social beings and positive connections are a key factor in resilienceSlide13
Critical FactorsCare leavers are not all the same! 3 groups have been identified:Moving onSurvivors
Victims
Important to start with an assumption that all care leavers need support and tailor this to the particular challenges each group/individual facesSlide14
Best PracticeCare leaving processProgrammes
need to reflect
3 stages of transition: preparation for independent living; managing the transition; post-care mentoring and supportFocus on interdependenceNetworks of support with meaningful connections with supportive adults and peers
Inclusion of birth family and caregivers in transition planning
Provision of a coordinated range of services
Living skills
Secure and safe accommodation
Access to education, training or employment
Financial support
Access to general health services and any specialist services that may be required
A designated coordinator for each care leaver
Legislative and policy frameworkSlide15
New Zealand situationIn December 2009 there were 1,437 young people aged 14–16 in the custody of CYF and 89 aged 17 or over
By 30 June 2012 there were 834 14–16 year olds in the custody of CYF and 24 aged 107 or over
Young people exit care at 17, younger than any other English-speaking country
CYF has a transition policy in line with best practice but there is no legislation to back this up and indications are that application is inconsistent and the most challenging young people are likely to have an abrupt transition. OCC report on Children in Care noted that:
Caregivers, social workers and lawyers highlighted this as an area of concern
Many of the 47 young people interviewed expressed anxiety about what would happen when they reached their 17th birthday
The only
young people who
made
any reference to transition support knew
about
Dingwall’s
Launch
programme
Slide16
Some good newsIn 2001 the Nelson office of CYF developed an Independent Youth
Programme
to reduce the risk factors for young people leaving care
Based in a Family Home the programme ran over 12 weeks for up to 3 hours a week with social workers actively involved
Able to transfer knowledge and skill; strong peer relationships developed; educative for participants and their social workers
They concluded that visionary, proactive interventions could only succeed as a pilot within the statutory service and a creative approach working collaboratively with the community was recommended
Recommended that CYF adopt a transitional
programme
as part of the discharge process and that
specialised
teams of social workers be trained for this roleSlide17
More good newsTransition services were introduced in Auckland in 2004 at
Dingwall
Trust
(Launch to Independence) and Youth Horizons (Ka Awatea) 2010 evaluation
of the Launch
programme
run by
Dingwall
Trust found that participants valued the support received
Overall had good outcomes in relation to accommodation, education, income, life skills, health, transport, and social networks and relationships
Relationship with personal adviser critical component
Consistent with international
literature the evaluation
highlights
the vulnerability
of care leavers and
the resilience
building potential of transition
programmesSlide18
Current challengesAccommodation has been identified as a key area of difficultyLimited provision of youth-friendly housing optionsHigh youth unemploymentCreation
of a new
category of young people:
NEET (not in education, employment, or training)16–18 year old young parents16–18 year old partners of a person with a child16–17 year old partners without a child16–17 year olds not supported by familyTwo benefits: Youth Payment and Young Parent Payment
Administered
by Youth
Service
Providers designated by MSD
MSD role is
centralised
Different providers in different areasSlide19
Youth PaymentMust be engaged with Youth Service ProviderMust be in education or trainingMust complete a budgeting course and meet regularly with provider to discuss budget1
st
and 2
nd time fail to meet obligations payment will be suspended and any additional payments stoppedWill have four weeks to address3rd time benefit will be stopped immediatelyPayment is accessed by way of debit card which can only be used at designated shops
Cannot be used to purchase cigarettes or alcoholSlide20
Young Parent PaymentEngage with Youth Service ProviderAttend budgeting course and meet to discussActively involved in education, training or work-based learning from time child is one year old or 6 months if in a Teen Parent Unit
Attend parenting course
Child must be enrolled with PHO and Well Child and completing checks
Child must be in ECE or suitable childcare when attending education or trainingSupported by Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment paid direct to providerSame sanctions apply as for Youth BenefitSlide21
Implications for Care LeaversComplex system to negotiateNot everybody is aware of the changes further limiting the support available to young people
Obligation on young people to
fulfil
criteriaResources to support compliance are not necessarily available Budgeting servicesParenting programmes appropriate for teen parentsEarly childhood education services
Education facilities for teen parents (Teen Parent Units)
Some PHOs are at capacity and not accepting new enrolments
No safety net for those who do not complySlide22
MSD Funding for NGOs Currently fund more than 2,300 social services to deliver around 4,600 contracts supporting individuals, children and families each yearMessage from the Minister in June 2012:
“
It’s vital these Government-funded services make a tangible difference to those who need it
most. Services including intensive home visiting for vulnerable children, parenting support, community social work, youth programmes and employment support have the potential to change lives,
but every dollar has to make a difference
.
”
Strong emphasis on ensuring best results for children and families
Signalled change within government and in relationship with providersSlide23
Steps to ImplementationGovernmentDetermine purchasing priorities – types of services to be funded and whereMSDStreamline relationship and funding management
Further develop contracting mechanisms
Hold providers and MSD accountable for agreed results
Invest in the capability of providers who have the potential to deliver effectivelyMSD Providersassess their organisational capability and delivery using a framework developed in partnership with MSD
Slide24
ChangesBetter use of multi-year and multi-agency contracts and better consistency across MSD’s service linesIncentivising
providers to achieve the results our communities need
F
unding targeted to what we know is working and the organisations that can demonstrate successProviders working together for better outcomes
S
upporting
providers to develop and adapt to changing expectations
S
olid
and measurable outcomes achieved with
current
funding levels
B
etter
ways of measuring that results are being achievedSlide25
Implications for NGOsChanges to be achieved within current fundingRedistribution rather than investmentClimate of uncertainty
Limited opportunity for expansion or development of new services
Greater expectation that service delivery will be coordinated across agencies
Where does this leave young people transitioning from care?Slide26
What is happening in your area?Around the room you will find sheets of paper with three different questions:What resources/supports are available in your community for young people transitioning from care?
What are the gaps in service provision for young people leaving care?
How could transition be better
supported for each of the three groups identified: moving on; survivors; victims?Please respond to these questionsResponses will be collated and feedback from the five seminars will be provided to SSPASlide27
Where to from here?White PaperChildren in care are identified as vulnerableNew multi-agency strategy for children and young people in careStronger transitions from State care returning to a parent, to a Home for Life or to independent living as a young adult
How can this be ensured?Slide28
The way forwardInternationally progress has only been made when specific legislative provision has been made for care leaving services
Effective transition planning involves a multi-agency approach and collaborative partnerships to ensure access to: accommodation; education, vocational training and employment; income support; mentoring; and social networks.
Research highlights that transition is a 3 stage process involving in-care preparation, exit support, and after care services.
Care leavers’
needs
vary and support must be individually tailored
Models of best practice exist
Current projects demonstrate what is achievable and where improvements can be made Slide29
RecommendationsThe OCC report on children in care found that while current CYF policy was consistent with best practice there
was
evidence of non-compliance leading
to variable outcomes. It was recommended that the Minister for Social Development and Employment: (a) introduce legislation to raise the care leaving age to 18; and
(b)
give
consideration to the enactment of the CYPF Act Amendment Bill no.6, which makes provision for transition planning for all young people approaching
independence. Slide30
RecommendationsIn the meantime CYF should ensure that all young people leaving care have individually tailored support packagesIdentification of a support personSafe, secure accommodation
Supported engagement with education, training or employment
Financial support
School and medical recordsA birth certificateInformation about their birth family, the reason they came into care and their journey through careFor Māori care leavers this should include information about their
whānau
,
hapū
and
iwi
connections
Information about Youth Support servicesSlide31
RecommendationsTransition Services in all larger centres and coordinated support services in smaller centres
Early referral – no later than 15 years of age and earlier for young people experiencing placement instability
Provision of a personal advisor or mentor
Comprehensive assessment of need and referral to appropriate services addressing unresolved issues in relation to mental health, substance abuse, physical health and offendingAccommodation ServicesShelter accommodationFoyer housing
Live-in
carer
housing
Nation-wide provision of One Stop ShopsSlide32
ConclusionWe do not expect our own children to leave home at 17 and become fully independent.All young people leaving care need on-going supportMany will require comprehensive and coordinated support packages that continue for three years or moreIt is extremely unlikely that such a service will be established and funded by government
The majority of care leavers are likely to be more receptive to community-based support rather than continued involvement with a government-funded service
These are our young people and we have a collective responsibility to ensure that they have the opportunity to achieve
positive outcomes