Paper
Leaving state residential Care in Bucharest: what supports and hinders the transition
- issue: Issue 2 / 2010
- authors: Roxana Anghel
- keywords: leaving care, early outcomes, preparation
- views: 5552
- downloaded: 0
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abstract
Background and introduction
Romanian care leavers have a difficult history of abandonment, long-term institutionalisation, abuse and displacement, isolation from society, and scarcity of resources. Yet these young people are also the survivors of these conditions, capable of meaningful reflection, insight, and learning.
At the end of their care career though, while some temporary support is now available to most of them (from non-governmental organisations, private providers, family, and the state), it is not yet known how they fare in the long run. Whilst during communism they received all-round support through the system of universal social protection, during the 1990s they were highly vulnerable with no support from state or family, often becoming homeless immediately after discharge. Currently their visibility has increased substantially and support is available through policies, such as offering two extra years of care, a system of protected contracts and incentives to employers, support towards renting or acquiring accommodation, and special services for learning independent living skills. Yet their transition takes place against a background of simultaneous transitions experienced since the fall of communism by the childcare system and the whole society. In preparation for EU accession the childcare system had to respond to demands for the closure of the large institutions and deinstitutionalisation of most children and young people; this resulted in a dramatic 75% drop in institutionalised residents. Other changes like repeated reform of the childcare system, implementation of the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child), and switch to family-type care have increased the pressure for all involved. Similarly Romanian society has moved from communism to a liberal economic and social model, raising serious adjustment challenges for most of the population. These wider developments and pressures put an extra burden on the young people making the transition from an environment unknown to the society to an environment unknown to the young people.
Aims and methods
This study has investigated the experiences of, and views about the preparation received towards independent living and social integration of 28 youths approaching discharge in Bucharest. It has looked at areas such as care career, education, employment and financial experience, health, care leaving plan, destination, relationship with family, information and support, future plans, and the meaning of care leaving. Seventeen young people were followed up eight to nine months later looking at their experiences and early outcomes of their transition, although only thirteen of the seventeen had left care by that time.
For a balanced view of the reality of care leaving the study has also involved 18 state and non-governmental organisations care professionals, interviewed once about their perceptions of their role, working environment, and interaction with the young people.
Key findings
The young people are largely unprepared for the demands of the modern living conditions. Generally, they leave with poor education, little prior experience of legal employment or financial management, and no personalised leaving care plan, including no assessment. Consequently only 29% of the initial sample felt ready to leave; the rest were mostly ambivalent, or very depressed. However by the second interview no young person was homeless, all being accommodated in flats, other centres, back home, or through private arrangements in the community. Half of the follow-up sample found employment, and all but one had some external form of support.
Supportive factors included leaving their 'in care' identity behind; a positive outlook on care leaving, self, and personal ability; trustworthy informal circles of support, and the involvement of non-governmental organisations in preparation and temporary accommodation.
Yet the difficulties outweighed the support as the extensive changes taking place in the last decade affecting the quality of the workforce, the management of care, and the care model have created a rift in the trust and relationship between young people and care professionals. This has created stress, anxiety, and a sense of powerlessness and pressure for both groups. This finding is mainly based on reciprocal perceptions of an imbalance between each other's benefits, responsibilities and role fulfilment.
Recommendations and implications
Participants suggest a model of care based on communication, respect, experiential learning, and needs and resources assessment. Also a culture of high expectations, and an emphasis on strengths and on the transition, while in care, from collective identity to individual identity would enhance resilience and facilitate detachment from care.
Key references
National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights (ANPDC, 2006) Child Welfare in Romania - the story of a reform process, http://www.copii.ro/im/ANPDC_brochure.pdf
Government Decision 669/2006 on approving the National Strategy for Social Inclusion of Young People Leaving the Child Protection System.
Muga, M. (ed) (2005) Study on the Situation of Young People leaving the Child Protection System. Bucharest: National Institute for Research on Labour and Social Protection.
Contact details
Roxana Anghel, Research Officer, Social Studies and Primary Care Department, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK.
Tel: 0044845 196 2528
Email: Roxana.Anghel@anglia.ac.uk