Factors Influencing the Adult Care Leavers' Transition from Care to Independence. The Case of Harare, Zimbabwe

Journal of Social Research & Policy, Volume: 10, Issue: 2, Online First

Date: December 2019

ISSN: 2067-2640 (print), 2068-9861 (electronic)

Abstract: Young people leaving care have been the subject of international research in the last decade, whilst studies are still limited in Africa. The ability of young adults to transition successfully from institutional care to independent adulthood has become a policy concern. This is because of the documented poor outcomes of care leavers, especially in SubSaharan Africa. This paper explores the factors influencing care leavers transition in Harare, Zimbabwe. Utilizing qualitative research methods and thematic analysis, the study identified several factors that affect young people from the view of care leavers and residential care workers. Respondents were purposively selected, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a care leaver focus group. The paper’s main findings show that there are many factors which influence young people’s transition from care in Harare. Amongst these were the young person’s previous circumstances, their ability to form new relationships, their resilience, and their positioning in the interaction of multiple systems that exist in the society. The paper makes recommendations for more successful transitions from institutional care which include; recognizing that care leavers are not a homogenous group and the improvement of policies and programs relevant for the sustenance of care leavers.

Keywords: Care Leavers; Institution; Independence; Social Services; Transitions; Residential Care; Young Adults.