FROM CARE TO UNIVERSITY: HOW PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESILIENCE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESFUL EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES OF CARE LEAVERS.

FROM CARE TO UNIVERSITY:

HOW PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESILIENCE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESFUL

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES OF CARE LEAVERS

Rebecca Eloise Munson…

22

childhood, youth & education studies

Care leaver

informally adopted by my foster carer

3 adopted siblings

why am I here…?

start

rationale

this research

share

current higher education situation

Care leaver

6%

lower

6%

incredibly low

national average

38%

worse still…

care leaver

4x

although…

really a surprise?

majority of research

focuses on…

Negative Outcome

s

negative research=

care leavers

DO NOT

little POSITIVE expectation

researchers

policy makers

professionals

Negative Outcome

s

research should

6%... 10%... 25%... 30%

providing

small but

G R O W I N G

positive educational outcomes

positive research

care leaver

unique insight

HOW…?

“a multi-professional group of experts on foster care

commented they knew of no research that examined factors that contribute to resilience and high performance in school for

children and youth in care” (Jackson & Cameron, 2012: 1108)

Protective Factors +

Resilience =

Higher Education Success

what is resilience?

resilience…

dynamic process

achieve positive outcomes

despite

significant adversity & trauma

protective factors

develop resiliency

protect from effects of adversity

PROTECTIVE

FACTORSRISK

3 categories

individual factors

personal relationships

environmental factors

within this study

THEIR EXPERIENCES

moreover…

unlike previous research

They would not have succeeded

without

essential

for success

interviewed

21 care leavers

19-42

3Work environment

3University funding

8Support and encouragement from a teacher/s

7Local Authority funding

5University was the normal/ expected path

7Friendship network

7Stable/ successful school experience

12Stable placement: Under 5 placements

Environmental Factors

5A birth family member went to university

5Social Worker/ Personal Advisor relationship/ support

7Support from a significant other (none of the above)

8Birth Family relationship/ support

8Foster Carer relationship/ support

Personal Relationships

7Ambition e.g. wanting to do a certain job

8Self reliance/ independence

8Personality factors i.e. competitiveness

9Ability & Intelligence

11Altruism

18Self efficacy

19Ability to rationalise and visualise choices

21Motivation & drive

Individual Factors

N (21)Protective Factors

3Work environment

3University funding




7Friendship network














11Altruism

18Self efficacy



Individual Factors


17 / 21

3Work environment

3University funding




7Friendship network







8Birth family relationship/ support







11Altruism

18Self efficacy



Individual Factors

N(21)

Protective Factors

3Work environment

3University funding




7Friendship network







8Birth family relationship/ support







11Altruism

18Self efficacy



Individual Factors

N(21)

Protective Factors

3Work environment

3University funding




7Friendship network














11Altruism

18Self efficacy



Individual Factors


3Work environment

3University funding




7Friendship network














11Altruism

18Self efficacy



Individual Factors


essential

3 factors

1st important factor score of 3

2nd important factor score of 2

3rd important factor score of 1

not mentioned score of 0

RankProtective Factor Score

1 Motivation & drive 2.35

2 Ability to rationalise and visualise choices 0.85

3 Foster Carer relationship/ support 0.65

3 Support from a significant other (none of the above) 0.65

5 Birth Family relationship/ support 0.4

6 Ability & Intelligence 0.3

7 Social Worker/ Personal advisor relationship/ support 0.15

8 Self reliance/ independence 0.1

8 University was the normal/ expected path 0.1

10 Local Authority funding 0.1

11 Self efficacy 0.05

11 Altruism 0.05

11 Ambition i.e. wanting to do a certain job 0.05

11 Stable/ successful school experience 0.05

11 Work environment 0.05

16 Personality factors i.e. competitiveness 0

16 A member of my birth family went to university 0

16 Stable placement: Under 5 placements 0

16 Friendship network 0

16 Support and encouragement from a teacher/s 0

16 University funding 0

1.45

RankProtective Factor Score

1 Motivation & drive 2.35

2 Support from a significant other 1.45

3 Ability to visualise and rationalise choices 0.85

4 Birth Family relationship/ support 0.4

5 Ability & Intelligence 0.3

6 Social Worker/ Personal advisor relationship/ support 0.15

7 Self reliance/ independence 0.1

7 University was the normal/ expected path 0.1

9 Local Authority funding 0.1

10 Self efficacy 0.05

10 Altruism 0.05

10 Ambition i.e. wanting to do a certain job 0.05

10 Stable/ successful school experience 0.05

10 Work environment 0.05

15 Personality factors i.e. competitiveness 0

15 A member of my birth family went to university 0

15 Stable placement: Under 5 placements 0

15 Friendship network 0

15 Support and encouragement from a teacher/s 0

15 University funding 0

significant

essential to success

added to this

other issues arose

varied support

differences in

financial

emotional

practical

institutions offered

monthly support groups

regular contact

active members of Quality Mark

what can you do?

ensure support is consistent

across all universities

strengths

support groups

regular contact

active members

wrap up…

what does this all mean?

higher chance

improving

higher educational outcomes

care leavers

children & young people still in care

FROM CARE TO UNIVERSITY: HOW PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESILIENCE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESFUL EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES OF CARE LEAVERS.

Documents

personality factors

ability intelligence0

self efficacy0

stable placement

foster carer relationship

care jackson cameron

important factor

self reliance independence