It’s complicated: A longitudinal exploration of young people’s perceptions of placement in foster care and their reflections on changing children’s social care

Assumptions about what is best for children with social care involvement are often made by professionals, yet few studies have systematically asked youth about their perceptions and even fewer studies have explored how their perspectives may change over time. This study, Fostering Healthy Futures, asked 200 preadolescent children a series of questions about the difficulties… Read More

Supporting Parents in and Leaving Care

This event details recent efforts to co-develop a best practice charter, aimed at creating meaningful change for parents in and leaving local authority care. Co-produced with care experienced parents, practitioners and policy makers, the charter is aimed at Corporate Parents; professionals with responsibility for supporting young people in state care. In Wales, corporate parents are directed… Read More

Understanding the Support Needs of Children Adopted from Public Care: Findings from the Wales Adoption Cohort Study

Every child adopted from the public care system in the UK has a complex and individual history of early adversity that may include early experiences of maltreatment, neglect, or household dysfunction. Some children may have been exposed to drugs or alcohol in utero or may have a higher genetic risk for mental health problems. All… Read More

How do transitions shape the educational journeys of adult care leavers?

Blog by Eavan Brady, Trinity College Dublin We all experience numerous transitions in and out of various roles throughout our life course – becoming an adult, becoming a parent, or moving out of the family home, to name a few. Young people who have left state care (for example, foster care or residential care) often experience an… Read More