ABSTRACT
Often, young people leaving out-of-home care and homelessness services receive minimal ongoing support, complicating their transition to independent living. This exploratory, mixed-methods study examined a novel unfunded program in an Australian state that provides lifelong extended support to young people exiting the organisation’s out-of-home care and homelessness programs. Through a survey of 16 staff, four of whom participated in an additional interview, the study identified supports the program provided to young people. The data highlighted the program’s perceived impact and suggested program improvements. Survey findings indicated that requested supports were largely pragmatic and short-term, primarily concerning mental health, housing, employment, and family violence–related needs. Some young people required prolonged support up to 12 months. Interview findings highlighted the program’s perceived strengths: supporting safe and meaningful relationships, processing relational trauma, preventing retraumatisation, and enhancing young people’s community connections. Study findings emphasise the importance of relational support to sustain successful transitions to independent living for vulnerable youth.
IMPLICATIONS
Programs for youth transitioning from out-of-home care and homelessness services currently rely on episodic interventions.
Examination of a novel program demonstrates the utility of relational extended support for these young people in emerging adulthood.
Ongoing relational support may foster safe and meaningful relationships between young people, services, and the community, the processing of relational trauma, preventing retraumatisation, and enhancing community connections in emerging adulthood.
