Presented by Shane Griffin at Unity Through Relationship’s 2015 Conference www.careleaversnetwork.com “UNITY THOUGH RELATIONSHIP’ IS A COLLABORATIVE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE GATEWAY ORGANISATION, CYC-NET (THE INTERNATIONAL CHILD & YOUTH CARE NETWORK) AND EMPOWER IRELAND” WWW.UNITYTHROUGHRELATIONSHIP.COM
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Supporting Young People Moving from Care; Plenary Presentation
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Transcript
Presented by Shane Griffin at Unity
Through Relationship’s 2015
Conferencewww.careleaversnetwork.com
“UNITY THOUGH RELATIONSHIP’ IS A COLLABORATIVE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE GATEWAY ORGANISATION, CYC-NET (THE INTERNATIONAL CHILD & YOUTH CARE
ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH CARE LEAVERS’ NETWORK IRELAND
11TH NOVEMBER 2015
www.careleaversnetwork.com3
Introduction
• Father, Boyfriend, Son, Brother, Uncle, Friend, I am just like you.
• I am all these people who just happens to also be a Care leaver who has spent 8 years in foster / residential care.
• Social Studies Graduate, who has worked with Young People and Adults in Residential.
• I have also worked as a volunteer and employees with people who are vulnerable people and marginalised groups.
• Advocacy Manager with C.L.N Ireland and volunteer with C.L.I
• Speaking from personal experience / attained knowledge.
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Key Messages
1. Awareness of issues that Care Leavers
can encounter moving from care.
2. Results of survey that Care Leavers’
Network Ireland carried out.
3. Leaving state care Un-planned.
4. Dependency on state agencies
Childhood - Adulthood and the
weaning process to independence.
5. Returning to family of origin.
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“AT A YOUNG AGE, A
LARGE BOULDER
WAS PLACED ON MY
SHOULDERS”
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Issues that Care Leavers can
encounter moving from care /
Care Leavers input
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Issues with
leaving care /
Care Leavers
Input
Acceptance
Aftercare
Consistency
Breaking the cycle / (default mode)
Contact with birth family
Education attainment
Expectation
Fall back / safety net
Familiar face
Financial hardship / debt
Freedom
Homelessness
Identity
Individualized plan
Information
Institutionalization
Isolation
Loneliness
Mental health
Normality
Parenting
Peer support
Permanency
Post turning 21 years old
Practical life skills
Protection
Self-discovery /acceptance
Socialization
Societal stigma
Substance misuse
Supported / secure home
Therapeutic support
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Issues with
leaving care /
Care Leavers
Input(Continued)
• Care Leaver 1 (M): Turned 18 while
living with Foster Family, had sporadic
contact with birth family (B/F),
education advanced L.C – University
Degree. (Now Living independently )
• Care Leaver 2 (F): Turned 18 while living
with Foster family, Little contact with B/F
– separation / displacement, L.C – 3RD
Level (left before completion) –Emigrated – returned to college
Graduated aged 24. (Now Living
Independently)
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Issues with
leaving care /
Care Leavers
Input(Continued)
10
• Care leaver 3 (F): Turned 18 in
residential care, built relationships with
extended B/F family, education
sporadic – 5 years on attained primary
Degree 6 years on attained Masters
(Now living independently).
• Care leaver 4 (M): Turned 18 with Foster
Family, sporadic contact with B/F, L-C –
3rd level Degree – Hons BA, (still living
with F.F).
Issues with
leaving care /
Care Leavers
Input(Continued)
• Aftercare applicable with one Care Leaver and N/A with other three.
• All attained at least one primary 3rd level qualification,
• Placement stability / security with 2 absent with others.
• All reported sporadic contact with birth family, missed opportunity while in care due to sibling separation, another found extended family with time / maturity.
• All Care Leavers, found their place in the world with time, maturity, various routes were taken in doing so.
• All Care Leavers, felt under prepared for adult life and all struggled with this if not upon turning eighteen, some years later.
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Issues with
leaving care /
Care Leavers
Input(Continued)
My Personal Experience
• Left Care just before 14th Birthday from Residential Care, UN-Planned.
• Contact with Sibling's was sporadic.
• Default mode – pre care experience.
• Built relationships with sibling's and extended family, with time.