1. Jade Purtell Stewart Muir
  Beyond 18: The Longitudinal Study on Leaving Care Wave 1 Findings : Transition planning and preparation
Jade Purtell
Stewart Muir

2. Beyond 18 – Developing our understanding of young people’s experiences over time
Summary
Study overview
Profile of participants in the Survey of Young people (from OOHC)
Formal transition planning
Educational outcomes
Life skills for independent living
Wellbeing and support seeking
Wave 1 overview
What’s next for Beyond 18?

3. About the Beyond 18 study
Commissioned by DHHS to increase understanding of factors associated with transitions from out-of-home care
3 year Survey of Young People with OOHC experience
Online survey – W1 in ; W2 in ; W3 in
Follow-up qualitative interviews
Wave 1 focus on preparations for leaving care; Wave 2 & 3 more focused on post-care outcomes
Survey of foster & kinship carers
Survey of OOHC & leaving care workers
Analysis of DHHS Client Relationship Information System (CRIS) data extract

4. Young people in Wave 1 of Beyond 18
202 young people aged at time of entry to study
All had been in OOHC in Victoria when aged 15-18
Most recruited through caseworkers and/or community sector workers
Even division between those under 18 and those over 18
Just over half had left care at time of Wave 1 survey
Almost two thirds identified as female
12% identified as Indigenous
Almost even split between Melbourne and regional areas

5. Out of home care placements
Past or present placement type
28% - foster care
31% - residential care
Remainder in lead tenant, kinship or other care
Placement stability
Two thirds had >3 care placements
Nearly 1 in 4 had 6 to 10 placements
14 young people reported more than 20 placements
Age of entry to care
35% entered care < 10 years old
43% entered between 11-15
16% entered care after 15

6. Study limitations and sampling issues
Small study reduces opportunities for investigating differences within broader cohort
Relatively low numbers of young people from Indigenous backgrounds
Lack of sampling frame meant recruitment was opportunistic
Subsequent difficulty engaging those less engaged with services:
E.g. young people in permanent care and some kinship care placements
Young people totally disengaged from services
Target population is highly mobile (especially after leaving care) – hard to recruit and retain

7. Formal transition plans (by age)
Never saw it, never had it explained. It was discussed briefly….

8. Educational attainment among school leavers
Last completed school level (before leaving) n %
Year 9 or lower 20
27%
Year 10 13
18%
Year 11 17
24%
Year 12 18
25%
Total 72

9. Difficulties at school….
When I was younger I didn't like constantly being pulled out of school for things and always being picked up by people wearing tags which made other students look at me differently.
…living in a structured home meant missing out on daily school attendance, social outings and fitting in with others. I always and still do stand out.

10. Confidence in independent living skills

11. Social support and psychological & emotional wellbeing
Majority (70%) reported that they had at least one person that they could turn to should they encounter practical or emotional difficulties.
Most (79%) had high scores on a measure of felt security that asked about feelings of belonging, emotional security and social attachment
Some research to suggest that care leavers with high levels of felt security can have better post-care outcomes

12. Strengths and Difficulties (SDQ) relative to Australian norms
Difficulty scores
Close to average
Slightly raised
High score
Very high score
Emotional problems score
44%
18% 9%
28%
Conduct problems score
53% 8%
22%
17%
Peer problems score
25%
14%
16%
45%
Hyperactivity score
66%
10%
Total difficulties score
37%
15% 7%
41%
Pro-social scores
Slightly lowered
Low
Very low
Pro-social score
57%
12%

13. Community and social networks
I never invite friends over because its embarrassing. I feel different when everyone talks about things with their parents when I don't get to see mine.
There were lots of people always doing paperwork for me and about me, but no one was ever able to take me to do fun things

14. Leaving care services: use and access
Young people
71% of young people in care said they weren’t aware of funding for leaving care
99% of care leavers were aware of leaving care funding
32% of care leavers reported knowledge of dedicated leaving care services before transitioning from care
Workers
Leaving care workers: ‘We get the referrals too late’
OOHC workers: ‘The referral doesn’t get accepted until just before they’re leaving care’

15. Overall Indicators of preparation for leaving care
Positives: high scores on felt security and confidence with living skills
Concerns: poor educational attainment, indicators of psychological distress and difficulties with peers, low awareness of leaving care services prior to transition
Issues for further investigation: what do low rates of engagement with formal transition planning mean for outcomes?
“It’s so important that young people have access to tailored services and support to help them successfully transition to independence after leaving out-of-home care.” Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

16. What’s next for Beyond 18?
Wave 2 survey – outcomes after leaving care.
Data analysed; findings being drafted
Wave 3 survey – Outcomes and transition pathways: what works for young care leavers?
Online survey in the field
Interviews with young people – ongoing until early 2018
Surveys of carers and Survey of OOHC & leaving care workers
Online surveys in the field

17. AIFS 2018 Conference What matters most to families in the 21st Century?