Caring for the After An overview of the situation regarding the after-care of children in out-of-home care in Malta Office of the Commissioner for Children, Malta Nicholas Vella Laurenti, Policy & Research Officer

Rationale of After-care Care process is a continuum oOverlapping (not discrete) phases, hence need to carry on care beyond the leaving stage oSuccess of reintegration depends also on the quality of care provided before the leaving stage Ultimate aim of care process should be to allow child to develop into a mature young adult

Background Situation in Malta Child Population: 79,334 children (2008) Number of Children in out-of-home care: oResidential Care: 243 children (2008) oFoster Care: 160 children (2008) 89% of residential child care is provided by Religious Communities. Median age at which offspring leave their parents’ home: 28 (Eurostat, 2005)

A holistic view of the care process in Malta (1) During Care Care is tailored to the individual child - o Care Plan and Social Worker for every child in out-of-home care Care is geared towards allowing child to realize his/her potential and becoming independent.

A holistic view of the care process in Malta (2) After Care Young adults who leave out-of-home care are helped to live independently: o Housing schemes  social housing  shared ownership  rent subsidy  supported housing  independent living programmes

A holistic view of the care process in Malta (3) After Care Children who are in foster care are helped to stay with their foster families beyond the age of majority: oFostering allowance given to foster families is extended to until the fostered persons are 21 years old.

A holistic view of the care process in Malta (4) After Care Once children in out-of-home care reach the age of majority, they are helped to find employment: o Bridging the Gap Scheme o Mainstream support services for unemployed adults

A holistic view of the care process in Malta (5) After Care Young adults who leave residential out-of- home care are helped to cope with their new situation by the homes through the provision of after-care services: o formal after-care usually for period of 6 to 12 months; o support groups or past pupils associations; o formal and informal activities to keep care-leavers in contact.

A holistic view of the care process in Malta (6) Coordinating and centring the various support services provided in the phase after care around the individual: o Embark 4 Life project o youth. inc programme

A critical evaluation of the care process in Malta (1) o A study project by the Office of the Commissioner for Children is investigating the long term outcomes of children leaving care. The study is to be completed and published by mid

A critical evaluation of the care process in Malta (2)  There are no enforceable national standards across the care continuum.  Leaving out-of-home care process is not adequately prepared.  Recent efforts to coordinate services around the individual (i.e. Embark 4 Life project) must become a permanent part of the service setup.

Future Horizons  Enactment of law that will make national standards for out-of-home care legally binding on all providers of out-of-home care  Implementation of 10-year strategy on residential out-of-home care  Reorientation of out-of-home care from residential to foster care

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