Journey towards independent living: a grounded theory investigation of leaving the care of Girls & Boys Town, South Africa

Abstract

The journey out of care and towards independent living is a challenge for many care-leavers. There has been little research into the social processes involved in this care-leaving journey. This paper presents the results of a grounded theory investigation into the care-leaving journeys of nine young men who had, several years previously, been in the care of Girls & Boys Town in South Africa. Working from a resilience perspective, with an ecological emphasis, four central social processes emerged that together explain the care-leaving experiences of the participants. These processes are striving for authentic belonging; networking people for goal attainment; contextualised responsiveness and building hopeful and tenacious self-confidence. These four processes are located within contextual boundaries and at the social environmental interface. The paper presents these processes in detail, drawing on selected narratives of the participants and integrated with additional theory. It is hoped that this paper may contribute to theory building concerning care-leaving processes and enhance youth care practices for youth in care and leaving care.

Keywords:

• care-leavers
• resilience
• belonging
• child and youth care
• aftercare
• independent living

Acknowledgements

I thank Peter Marx (head of Research and Evaluation at Girls & Boys Town, South Africa) and Kashiefa Kader (researcher at Girls & Boys Town, South Africa) for their partnership in conducting this study and Lisa Dickens (researcher at Girls & Boys Town, South Africa) for her help in focusing this paper.