26 July 2016.
Anglicare’s Evaluation report released this month shows promising results for an innovative Transition to Leaving Care (TLC) program funded by the NSW government and implemented in July 2014 by Anglicare’s St Saviours Out of Home Care in Liverpool to help young people struggling with the transition out of care into independent living.
“The workers at St Saviours were great in preparing us to leave care, but it didn’t stop me from feeling nervous about leaving when I was about to turn 18,” says 19 year old Rosie, who was in over a dozen foster homes before entering residential care at St Saviours at the age of 14.
Evaluation of the program showed that a trusted adult and mentoring figure is vital to successfully navigating the transition to adulthood, and for achieving good outcomes in employment, education and housing.
“Knowing that you suddenly have to move out on your own and support yourself financially when you’ve always had someone looking out for you and paying for you is scary. Fortunately I was part of the TLC program, so I knew that if I was ever in trouble I could still contact my case worker, Cassie,” explains Rosie.
This year more than 3000 young people across Australia aged between 15-17 years of age face the prospect of transitioning out of foster care and residential care programs to fend for themselves.
“It’s a huge call to expect 18 year olds, particularly those from traumatised backgrounds, to be emotionally and financially prepared for independent living,” says Rachael Atkinson, St Saviours Regional Manager. “We want young people to thrive, not left feeling abandoned without adequate safety nets and support.”
For Rosie, who has bought her own car, rents her own home and is now as a youth worker caring for other vulnerable young people, TLC is not about a program – it’s about relationship. “Knowing Cassie is there for me as a mentor, especially when I was living on my own for the first time – that’s what’s made the difference in my life.”
More than 43,000 young people are in care across Australia, and over 16,000 are in the NSW out of home care system. St Saviours Out of Home Care is a member of Anglicare Australia.
Photo credit: Liverpool Champion newspaper
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