Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:658. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports available to vulnerable children who are not in education and do not receive aftercare supports. [30606/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 October 2016
Ceisteanna (658)
Freagraí scríofa
Aftercare is a term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living. It is essential that all young people leaving care are provided with the type of transitional support that their individual situation requires. Aftercare is available to all those eligible irrespective of which care sector they have been in, i.e. foster care or residential care.
The core eligible age range for aftercare is from 18 years up to 21 years. This can be extended until the completion of a course of education and training in which a young person who has left care, or is leaving care, is engaged, up to the age of 23 years.
Current aftercare provision incorporates advice, guidance and practical (including accommodation and financial) support. Advocating on behalf of young people to support their development as fulfilled adults in their community and, when necessary, to link them to targeted adult services, are also crucial elements of an aftercare service. Accordingly, in instances where a young person leaving care has experienced trauma and / or a developmental delay and is not yet ready to embrace independent living, due regard will be given within the aftercare planning process to linkages with appropriate, specialist, adult services.
A significant number of young people who leave State care annually are supported financially to remain living with their foster carers, in addition to having access to an aftercare worker. The most vulnerable group of young people are those leaving residential care or short term foster care placements. Children who come into care late, in their mid to late teens, may not have developed the relationships with staff or aftercare workers that help them to achieve good outcomes.
Young people who do not have family support from a foster carer or family base are assisted in finding accommodation in supported lodgings, sheltered housing or independent accommodation and encouraged and supported financially in furthering their training and education.
It should also be noted that there exists a cohort of young people leaving State care who, for whatever reason, choose not to engage with the aftercare supports available to them. Should any of these young people have a change of mind, the opportunity to re-engage with Tusla - the Child and Family Agency exists until the young person reaches 21 years of age. Young people who do not engage with aftercare will be entitled to the relevant supports and services offered by the State and available to young people generally. Of course, the criteria for supports available under such schemes and programmes are set by the relevant Departments/Agencies.