Yvonne Sjöblom, Department of Social Work. University of Stockholm
Ingrid Höjer, Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
In western societies - tendency for a protracted transition to adulthood for young people◦ Prolonged time in education◦ Hard to find housing◦ Hard to find employment
This means increased dependency of parents - economically, practically, emotionally
Makes the transition to adulthood more difficult for young care leavers - who often have to make it without support from parents
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Stipulated time for care leaving is 18 – after 18 you have to make a personal “application” for further support
Most young people stay in care until they have finished upper secondary school – usually at 19
◦ If mandatory measures – possible to stay in care until 21
No general programs or dedicated services
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Telephone interviews with 111 managers of social service units in 75 local authorities
Telephone interviews with 65 young people who left care within 3 months to 3 years
Hard to find young people – no record of their whereabouts after leaving care
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
290 municipalities in Sweden – several with few inhabitants – difficult to organise any specific leaving care programs
73 percent of the managers stated there were only 0-5 young persons about to leave care in their local authority
75 percent had no explicit routines to follow at young people’s exit from care
18 – 20 percent commissioned private enterprises for support to care leavers◦ Economic support, housing, emotional support,
educational support
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Only 11 per cent had any specially designated social workers for young people leaving care
Only 5 per cent had any specialised policy documents on care leaving
24 per cent had discussed leaving care issues in their social welfare committee (elected politicians)
Only 6 percent had any information of the whereabouts of young people after they had left care
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Placement Number of young people
Foster care 22
Residential home 17
Both foster care/residential care
25
Supported housing 1
Total 65
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Housing:◦ 40 lived by themselves◦ 2 lived with friends◦ 17 lived with partners◦ 2 with birth family◦ 3 supported housing
Social network of great importance – but vulnerable◦ 10 explicitly stated they felt lonely, without
anyone to turn to
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Support/Advice
Foster Carers
Birth Parents
Prof.
Others
No one/myself
No answer
Financial
12 14 4 24 4+3 4
Emotio-nal
7 4 6 36 6+2 4
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
• Disagreement between different stakeholders:• Between different units within each local authority• Between different agencies – psychiatric units, school, etc.• Between different municipalities• Between social services and foster carers/res.units• Between social services and birth parents
• Too little focus on young people’s needs – more focus on administrative procedures
• Young people are expected to shoulder a personal responsibility for their care leaving process
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
No elaborated, systematised models for young people’s transition from care to adulthood
The transitional process will be dependent on voluntary contributions from foster carers/residential staff
Little, or no, support from birth families Young people, as well as foster
carers/residential staff demand more elaborated models for practical support
Some kind of “familial” connection and “social skills” important for emotional support and sense of belonging
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
Höjer, I & Sjöblom, Y (2009) Ungdomar i utsatta livssituationer och deras väg till självständighet. Bilaga till betänkandet Lag om stöd och skydd för barn och unga (LBU). Stockholm: Statens offentliga utredningar 2009:68
Höjer, I & Sjöblom, Y (2010) Young People Leaving Care in Sweden. Child and Family Social Work, 15, p 118-127.
Höjer, I & Sjöblom, Y (2011) Att stå på egna ben. Om övergången från samhällsvård till vuxenliv. Socialvetenskaplig tidskrift, 1, s 24 – 41.
Höjer, I & Sjöblom, Y (2011) Procedures when young people leave care - views of 111 Swedish social services managers. Child and Youth Services Review, 33, pp 2452-2460
Yvonne Sjöblom, University of Stockholm, Ingrid Höjer, University of Gothenburg
