Paper
Formative and Summative Evaluation of a Program to Facilitate Transition from Care in Israel
- issue: Issue 2 / 2010
- authors: Rami Benbenishty, Anat Zeira, and Alexandra Magnus
- keywords: israel, leaving care
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abstract
Background
Transition into adulthood is a challenge to every young person, let alone for youth in care. With the majority of placements being in residential care settings, out-of-home placement in Israel ends at the age of 18. Thus, one major issue concerns the preparation of these young people for independent living. In Israel this is an even more complex issue given the mandatory army service for this age group.
Recently there are growing concerns in Israel about the needs of youth leaving care. Given the absence of a central data base reflecting this population's needs on the one hand and the lack of a single system that coordinates service provision to young people on the other hand, decisions about policy should be taken. Consequently, current policies are re-examined and programs and services are being developed to enhance youth life skills while in care and create transition schemes when they leave care.
The paper presents a formative and summative evaluation study on an experimental program for youth leaving care at the age of 18. The aims of the study are to:
- Examine and assess changes in policies regarding youth leaving care.
- Evaluate the processes and outcomes of an experimental program designed for youth leaving care.
Methods
The experimental program lasted about 18 months and consisted of 77 young persons (18-24) who left care and had little or no family support. As part of the program they resided in six locations; two of them closely associated with residential facilities; and the rest were rented houses in the community. The young persons were accompanied by professional staff ('carers') that provided counselling, support and supervision but did not live on premise.
The study used multiple methods and measures. We employed in-depth interviews with policy makers and managers of the programs, structured interviews with program staff, and semi-structured interviews with the youth. A time series design was used to follow up on the participants' progress while in the program. It included repeated measures every six months of the perspectives of both the participants and of their staff and site visits by the research team.
Key findings
Our findings indicate a clear need to further develop and disseminate programs for youth aging out of care. Despite the difficulty arising from selection bias of offering the program to a group of relatively strong young people, such selection is necessary to attain a better fit between program and youth characteristics. At the same time, additional programs should be also designed and offered to young people whose skills and abilities are less developed.
From a policy perspective we found serious difficulties in making the organizational adjustments required: a) to create a systematic approach to developing life skills among adolescents while in care, b) to achieve coordination between the various service providers and c) to ensure long term sustainability of this new program. Nevertheless, since the inception of the program about two years ago there were major developments in creating new policies and services for these youth. Furthermore, there are clear signs that the experimental program will serve as a template for additional programs to address the needs of youth leaving care.
Juxtaposition of reports made by youths and their carers indicate that youth and carers agree that the program is making positive contribution to participants. However, youth may have an overly optimistic view of their skills and their ability to cope effectively with independent living. Little progress has been made in the area of education. Achievements in work preparation are more noticeable, but there are clear indications that youth are struggling in that area as well, and many have not yet found stable and future-oriented employment.
Generally, youth assess the program and staff in positive terms and feel that the program was helpful. Staff saw the program as making significant contribution to most of the participants, especially those that did not drop out. A rather high level of attrition has been recorded: of the 77 there were at least 22 who left the program due to crisis or negative interaction with colleagues and staff.
Implications
Overall, our assessment is that the task of preparing youth for independent living and achieving such independence within 12-18 months following leaving care is a very difficult one, especially when more vulnerable youths are targeted. High levels of attrition are worrisome. The focus on independent living in the community with minimal supervision practically excludes young persons with more complicated mental health and behavioral needs. There is still clear need to continue the development of additional resources and strategies to address the needs of a wider range of young persons who leave care.
This formative study had an important impact on shaping the development of the program and provided important insights that resulted in ongoing changes and modifications during the study. Furthermore, the study has been instrumental in promoting attention to the needs of youth who leave care and making a tenuous transition to adulthood.
Key references
Benbenishty, R. (2008). A bridge for Care Leavers with no Family Supports: A formative and summative evaluation of an experimental program. Jerusalem: School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [Hebrew].
Benbenishty, R. (2008) 'Israel' In M. Stein and E.R. Munro (eds) Young People's Transitions from Care to Adulthood: International Research and Practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Benbenishty, R. (2007). A literature review and synthesis on youth aging out of care. Jerusalem: School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [Hebrew].
Contact details
Rami Benbenishty, Anat Zeira, and Alexandra Magnus,
Mental Health and Well Being in Childhood and Adolescence Research Group, School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel.
Rami Benbenishty email: msrami@huji.ac.il
Anat Zeira email: msanatz@mscc.huji.ac.il