1. What happens after out-of-home care? Models of good practice for Care Leavers in Germany Josef Koch, josef.koch@igfh.de Britta Sievers, britta.sievers@igfh.de Homepage: www.uni-hildesheim.de/careleaver

2. Structure Young people in Germany – some figures Residential and foster care in Germany – some figures Care leavers in Germany - Key Issues Models of support for care leavers The „Care Leavers Project“ Interview questions Call for good practice models

3. Young people in Germany some figures In an overall population of 81,8 Million, a total of 24,6 % was less than 26 years old (2010) (Source: Destatis), 20.1 Million young people Nearly 1 Million (954.000) young people and their families receive social provisions for children and families with problems (in 2009) (Source: KomDat 01/2011), 5 % of the age group 0 – 21 years

4. Residential and foster care in Germany some figures Cases (total) 1995200020052010 Foster care (§ 33)48,02148,99350,36460,451 Residential care in institutions (§ 34)69,96969,72361,80663,191

5. Care Leavers in Germany Key Issues young people who grew up in care are disproportionately disadvantaged in terms of educational outcomes „double discrimination“ on the labour market due to their biographical background and the lower level of qualification generally, for all adolescents the transition to adulthood is more open and uncertain and it often expands to the third live decade (It no longer exists a clear path such as: school  apprenticeship  employemt).

6. Average age when leaving home menwomenCare? 2010: Foster care: 15–18: 9.973 over 18–21: 3.480 over 21: 245 Residential care: 15-18: 23.046 over 18-21: 8.775 over 21: 672

7. Care Leavers in Germany Key Issues Care leavers are forced to live independently at an earlier stage of their life because residential care is terminated earlier (compared to the situation some years ago). There are great regional differences regarding support for young adults (residential and foster care, § 41 SGB VIII, 18 to 21 years ) Residential care for over 18 years old is decreasing although this group continues to face many difficulties in their transition to adulthood (total,18-21 years, 2000: 12.312; 2005: 9.032; 2010: 8.775)

8. Care Leavers in Germany Key Issues German youth policy so far barely acknowledges the difficulties this group of young people face (focus in youth welfare is presently on smaller children, early intervention and child protection) little knowledge on process of transition from care as well as on outcomes and the situation of young adults after they have left care

9. Care Leavers in Germany Key Issues Complex legal framework (different responsibilities often lead to disruptions of the relationship to carers or other helpers) Child and Youth Welfare (§ 41 SGB VIII) Labour administration (support in finding employment, SGB II and III) Social Services for persons with special needs (assistance for ill, disabled or persons with emotional problems, SGB XII) Aliens law: relevant for migrants with a foreign nationality (especially if they do not have a secure residence right / unaccompanied minor refugees)

10. Models of support for care leavers Assisted housing: eg. from foster or residential care move to accomodation with social worker support Mentoring programmes: long term support relationship offered to care leavers to assist in findig their way through the system(s) and to offer continuity (mostly for care leavers living in residential care) Youth seminars covering the issues identity, puberty and independence / separation from carers (especially for foster children)

11. The Care Leavers Project Project Partners: IGfH - German Section of FICE and University of Hildesheim (Institute for Social and Organizational Pedagogy) Subsidized by Stiftung Deutsche Jugendmarke e.V. (Youth Stamp Foundation Germany) Running from January 2012 until December 2013 Project Aims: to describe models of good practice for supporting adolescents and young adults in Germany who are leaving care (residential or foster care) in their transition to adulthood, to discuss these models in the light of experiences made in Germany and abroad, make the project findings available for use in pedagogical practice in the form of a workbook.

12. The Care Leavers Project Project Elements WORKBOOKWORKBOOK WORKBOOKWORKBOOK National Expert Workshops National Expert Workshops Literature Research Interviews with practitioners Research of good practice in Germany and abroad International Expert Workshop International Expert Workshop 2013: Transfer of findings into the practice of youth welfare 2013: Transfer of findings into the practice of youth welfare Analysis of key issues in Germany Analysis of key issues in Germany 2012: Research of models of good practice in Germany and other countries 2012: Research of models of good practice in Germany and other countries

13. The Care Leavers Project some interview questions When does – in your experience - the process of transition generally start and who initiates it? How would a typical case in your practice look like? Do you / does your agency work with a special model or concept to support the transition process or is there an „informal“ good practice when working with care leavers? What are - in your opinion - criteria for a successfull transition process? What role does the family, social workers etc. play in this process? What are typical barriers, problems and challenges for a care leaver in your country?

14. Call for good practice models Please get in touch with us if you / your agency / your youth welfare office has already developed services for supporting the transition of adolescents / young adults from residential or foster care or if you know of such models in your country. Thank You !!! Please contact: Josef Koch, josef.koch@igfh.de Britta Sievers, britta.sievers@igfh.de