The transition from childhood to adulthood can be experienced as a complex and long-lasting process for many young people, and they often need help and support from parents in their effort to develop independent living skills. The transition might be extra challenging for young people who lack access to such support, which is the situation for many young care leavers. Studies show that young care leavers experience their transition to adulthood as both accelerated and compressed, compared to others. Studies also find that disabled care leavers face higher risk of social exclusion, and are less likely to transit "successfully" to adulthood when using criteria like employment, income or education-level.
This study seeks to explore how fessional social work can support disabled care leavers in their transition to adult life. The data will consist of interviews with care leavers and social workers, in addition to a review of central policies within this field.
The main research question for the study is:
What characterizes aftercare for disabled care leavers in transition to adulthood?
The PhD dissertation will be arranged as a thesis by publication, consisting of three papers. The papers aim to:
- Analyze policy values that form the basis for public organized aftercare for disabled care leavers
- Explore how disabled care leavers have experienced support in their transition to adulthood
- Gain insight in how social work practice in aftercare can support disabled care leavers during the transition to adulthood