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Stand By Me – Flexible and Holistic Support for Young Care Leavers: Smoothing Transitions from Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2016

Jade Purtell  and
Philip Mendes
Jade Purtell
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, Monash University
Philip Mendes*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, Monash University
*
address for correspondence: Philip Mendes, Director Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit (SISPRU), Department of Social Work, Monash University. E-mail: philip.mendes@monash.edu
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Abstract

Young people placed in out-of-home care (OHC) through Child Protection in Victoria are formally discharged by the expiration of their care order at the age of 18 years or younger. In contrast, young people in Australia generally live in their family home with parents or carers well into their twenties. Whilst there are a range of leaving care and post-care services funded for care leavers, these supports tend to be temporary and discretionary in contrast to the ongoing support young people receive whilst in care or, in some cases, from family and social networks post care. Numerous studies have documented the developmental challenges experienced by young people leaving state care, and the often poor outcomes faced by this group. The Stand By Me (SBM) programme was developed in Victoria to replicate the ongoing support provided in the UK to care leavers by Personal Advisers who remain available to assist young people until 21 years of age. Evaluation of the SBM programme has shown that ongoing, holistic support, including housing support, has assisted 12 young people through the SBM pilot to access stable housing, address multiple and complex issues, and form trusting relationships with SBM workers that contribute to positive outcomes.

Keywords

out-of-home care (OHC)leaving careStand By Me programmepersonal advisorsevaluation
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 41 , Special Issue 3: CARING FOR CHILDREN OUTSIDE THE HOME – FROM INSTITUTIONS TO NATIONS , September 2016 , pp. 208 - 213
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

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References

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