The experiences and challenges faced by youth leaving care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Placement of children and youth at care centres has been a practice spanning over the years worldwide, to provide safe places resembling a home environment to the children and youth. This research study investigated the experiences and challenges faced by youth leaving care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The transition of youth from care is not an easy process in general due to the many adjustments that they have to make particularly because it is a time when they are transitioning to adulthood. The researcher adopted the qualitative research approach to explore the phenomenon of youth transitioning from care during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to gain an in-depth understanding of the participants’ experiences from their points of view. The significant findings of the research study revealed that the participants valued the relationships that they built when they were in care. It was evident from the findings that the pandemic worsened the challenges the youth face when they leave care, calling for the importance of support systems to manage these challenges. Recommendations were made, among them, for Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) to notify youth in advance of when they will be exiting care so that they are better prepared and to have follow-up plans for youth who have exited care.