Experiences of Young People Preparing to Transition Out of Cluster Foster Care in South Africa

Monica Goemans, Adrian D. van Breda, Shose Kessi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Research on young people transitioning out of care due to reaching the age of majority (referred to as care-leaving or aging out of care) is still emerging in South Africa. To date, almost all research on leaving care has focused on the transition out of residential care, with little attention to the transition out of foster care, including cluster foster care (roughly equivalent to group homes in other countries). This paper aims to describe the experiences of youth preparing to age out of cluster foster care in South Africa. Individual interviews were conducted with nine youth preparing to leave a cluster foster organization called Home from Home. In addition, a semi-structured focus group was run with six of their foster mothers. Thematic analysis generated four themes: the desire for independence; the centrality of meeting material and physical needs at the time of transition; the continuity of emotional care during the transition; and the supported development of the capacity for self-determination. Self-determination theory, ambiguous loss and ubuntu (or interdependence) were found to be useful theories to interpret the findings. Recommendations are proposed to better prepare foster children for leaving care and for creating a social environment that is receptive to and conducive for foster care-leavers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-237
Number of pages11
JournalChild and Adolescent Social Work Journal
Volume38
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • Aging out of care
  • Foster care
  • Group home care
  • Leaving care
  • South Africa
  • Youth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • General Social Sciences

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