The Journey of Care Leavers Transitioning Out Of The Child Protection System

Abstract

newlineABSTRACT newlineIn India, a significant number of children in vulnerable situations, who enter the newlineChild Protection System, are placed in children s homes. As an alternative to newlinefamily-based care, these homes shoulder the responsibility to prepare their newlineresidents for future lives. Once residents attain the age of majority, they are newlinerequired to leave children s homes and take charge of their lives. The Juvenile newlineJustice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, has a provision for aftercare newlineprogrammes for residents who need continued support beyond 18 years before newlineassuming adult responsibilities. newlineThis qualitative study attempts to understand how residents placed in the Child newlineProtection System are prepared for their lives after transitioning out of the newlinesystem and explore how care leavers experience their post-transition life. This newlinestudy employed semi-structured interviews with care leavers and professionals newlineworking closely with the Child Protection System to understand care leavers newlineexperiences tied to their journey in and out of the Child Protection System and newlineto gain a contextual understanding of the factors affecting these experiences. newlineThe study found that relevant opportunities for career development and life newlineskills, suitable environment, and concerned relationships result in constructive newlinepreparation experiences. At the systemic level, the study observed the newlineimportance of robust monitoring and supervisory structures to adequately newlineaddress existing loopholes in children homes practices affecting the preparation newlineprocess. The findings of the study reveal that the post-transition experience of newlinecare leavers is primarily determined by their personal characteristics and social newlinenetworks, which are significantly influenced by their preparation experiences newlinewithin the Child Protection System, their exit experiences, and the follow-up newlinesupport available to them. Besides, the study explored how gender stereotypes newlineand stereotypes against children in residential homes have a bearing on the newlinepreparation and post-transition experiences of care leavers. newlineKeywords: Child Protection System, Residents, Care leavers, Preparation, newlineTransition newlinex