A new book examined early pregnancy and parenthood from the perspectives of young men and women in and leaving care. It questioned the assumptions that early parenthood always limited young people's choices and opportunities, and examined the types of support most likely to enable successful parenting.
Source: Elaine Chase, Ian Warwick, Abigail Knight and Peter Aggleton, Supporting Young Parents: Pregnancy and parenthood among young people from care, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined the health and well-being of young people making the transition from care to independent adulthood.
Source: Jo Dixon, 'Young people leaving care: health, well-being and outcomes', Child & Family Social Work, Volume 13 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-May
The watchdog in Scotland for the rights of children and young people said that vulnerable children were leaving care when they were too young, ending up homeless and potentially vulnerable to drug/alcohol problems and unemployment. Eight times as many young people left care at 16 as at 18, despite law and policy strongly advising that they should be encouraged to stay in care until they were 18.
Source: Sweet 16? The age of leaving care in Scotland, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (0131 558 3733)
Links: Report | Summary | Herald report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Mar
An article examined how care-leavers accessed and used housing services, and what they said had helped them to do so. Care-leavers had more positive housing experiences than other young people in difficulty, helped by the improved preparation for independence and ongoing support available to them from leaving care teams.
Source: Antonia Simon, 'Early access and use of housing: care leavers and other young people in difficulty', Child & Family Social Work, Volume 13 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Feb
An article examined the informal support networks available to a sample of young people over a period of 12-15 months after leaving care. It highlighted the need for continuing professional attention to be given to strengthening family links as one strategy for helping care leavers to negotiate the transition to adulthood.
Source: Jim Wade, 'The ties that bind: support from birth families and substitute families for young people leaving care', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 38 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Feb