The challenges and experiences of youth leaving foster care system in South Africa.

Abstract

Foster care placement in the Republic of South Africa remains the primary alternative care option for children seeking treatment and safety as illustrated in Section 150 of the Children`s Act 38 of 2005. Foster care seeks to ensure the care, protection and care of children in a safe and healthy condition. These children are provided monetary help in a form of foster child grant. Youngsters placed in foster care are viewed as legally adults at the age of 18 and, therefore, presumed capable of caring for themselves. The main goal of the study conducted, was to explore the challenges and experiences of youth leaving foster care system in South Africa. The researcher has followed the qualitative approach for the aim of this study. Explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs were applied to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges and experiences of youth leaving the foster care system in South Africa. A total of 18 social workers and 18 care leavers in the Gauteng Province (Tshwane District Municipality) from the Department of Social Development (DSD) and various Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCC) were purposively selected for the study. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The theoretical frameworks employed to anchor the study are Ecological Systems Theory, Social Support Theory, Resilience Theory and Attachment Theory. Besides, the researcher utilised the constructivist/interpretivist paradigm in order to understand the participant`s viewpoints. In this study conducted for my Doctoral studies, it was found that these youths face the risk of losing much of the financial aid after leaving care. The South African Social Service Agency (SASSA) ceases the foster child grant when the child completes matric and have reached the age of 18 or do not go on with their school. This occurs irrespective of whether the child is unemployed or in work. According to the findings, children are put in foster care after they have been identified as children who need guidance and preservation as provided for in Section 150 of the Children`s Act 38 of 2005. The findings also indicated that the foster child grant play a significant part in meeting the fundamental and financial demands of children and youth placed in foster care. Furthermore, it was found that foster care placement offer various opportunities which includes provision of basic needs, therapy or counselling services, provision of family environment and shelter, educational opportunities, recreational or extra-mural activities, poverty alleviation, and promotion of independency. The participants indicated the following challenges; unemployment and lack of housing post foster care, change of foster care homes, lack of support from social workers and no re-unification services, teenage pregnancy and school dropouts, sexual abuse and prostitution. Lack of guidelines for preparing youth leaving the foster care system in South Africa was also identified as a challenge. Social workers always use their own discretion on preparing youth leaving care in South Africa. Furthermore, the findings indicate that care-leavers experienced inadequate provision of social support services from social workers and their families. In spite of lack of social support services, it was found that care-leavers often rely on their peers, siblings, religion, school and educational system as part of their social support or resilience. In addition, some of the care-leavers relied on abusing substances and they also engaged in sexual activities. The study concluded that youth who leave the foster care system should be thoroughly prepared to leave the foster care system in order to become independent young adults. Recommendations include making mandatory for foster parents and CYCCs to save money for foster children, rendering of supervision services post foster care placement, introduction of preparatory programmes for youth leaving care from 15-18 years, extending foster care placement beyond the age of 21 and establishment of shelters for youth leaving foster care system. Lastly, linking youth leaving care with available resources.