Transcript Residential care in Australia - Association of Children`s Welfare

Residential out-of-home care in
Australia: the story so far...
Jenna Bollinger and Stephanie Scott-Smith
[email protected]
[email protected]
Residential care in Australia

The vast majority of young people in OOHC live in foster
care (41%) or kinship care (47%) (AIHW, 2013).
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Approximately 5.2% of young people in OOHC end up in
Residential Care (AIHW, 2013).
Pathways into residential care
Case Study AB and CD
What we know about residential care in
Australia
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Residential Care is often viewed as a last resort.
Research suggests that young people in residential care tend
to have the most negative outcomes.
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What is about residential care that leads to more negative
outcomes?

Are there benefits of a residential care setting VS foster care
setting?

What does the Australian research say?
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The presumption that residential care produces negative
outcomes may exacerbate any potential negative
outcomes for the young person.
Case study: EF and GH
Predictors of long-term disadvantage for
young people in residential care
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Unresolved anger towards family members, workers or the system;
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Unsuitable and unstable placements and multiple changes of carers and workers;
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Lack of long-term goals (e.g., education, vocation and living arrangements);
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Lack of sufficient income;
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Contact with the juvenile justice system and imprisonment;
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Lack of preparation for leaving; and
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Lack of later contact with the care system.
Placement disruption and the importance of
placement stability.
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Case study IJ.
Predictors of long-term success for young
people in residential care

A positive experience of time in care – stability and consistency;
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The development of belief in self and resilience;
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The presence of mentors, advocates, previous carers and workers;
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After-care support workers;
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Family contact.
What we need to know about residential
care in Australia

Residential care VS therapeutic residential care
Therapeutic residential care has better outcomes

Foster care / Kinship care VS residential care with
similarly complex young people?
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Post care support / follow-up is essential
Residential care in Australia
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Young People in residential care have complex and diverse
presentations
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Therapeutic Residential Care produces better outcomes than
residential care

Residential care can be the best option to met the needs of
young people
There’s always room for improvement
A final case study

PQ
References
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Questions