‘Pushing forward’: resilience of youth from alternative care in Croatia

ABSTRACT

Children and youth living in alternative care represent a vulnerable group in need primarily because of the lack of parental care and placement in some form of alternative care. Before living in alternative care, they usually experience several risks, including living in economic hardship and poverty, being victims of abuse and neglect, facing parents’ or their mental health problems, and experiencing other stressful or traumatic experiences. Still, some youth show positive outcomes in the face of these adversities, demonstrating resilience. The aim of this research was to gain insight into the youth resilience factors promoting a successful transition to an independent life after living in alternative care in Croatia. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with eight young people who had experience living in alternative care and showed successful adaptation to an independent life. Thematic analysis resulted in the three themes of positive outcomes: the variety of experiences from care, life successes, and development of life perspective, and four resilience factors from the youth perspective: resources from the in-care life, self-concept, personal characteristics, and social support. The importance of developing youth empowerment programmes and better social support services for youth from alternative care is recommended.

SAŽETAK

Djeca i mladi koji žive u alternativnoj skrbi predstavljaju ranjivu skupinu prvenstveno zbog nedostatka adekvatne roditeljske skrbi i smještaja u neki oblik alternativne skrbi. Prije smještaja u alternativnu skrb, obično žive u različitim rizičnim okolnostima, poput života u ekonomskim poteškoćama i siromaštvu, kao žrtve zlostavljanja i zanemarivanja, suočavaju se s roditeljskim ili vlastitim problemima mentalnog zdravlja te dožive druga stresna ili traumatska životna iskustava. Ipak, neki mladi pokazuju pozitivne ishode usprkos rizičnim okolnostima, pokazujući otpornost. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je dobiti uvid u čimbenike otpornosti mladih koji potiču uspješnu tranziciju u samostalan život nakon života u alternativnoj skrbi u Hrvatskoj. Istraživanje je provedeno putem polustrukturiranih intervjua s osam mladih koji su imali iskustvo života u alternativnoj skrbi i pokazali uspješnu prilagodbu samostalnom životu. Tematska analiza rezultirala je s tri teme vezane za pozitivne ishode mladih: raznolikost iskustva iz skrbi, životni uspjesi i razvoj životne perspektive te četiri čimbenika otpornosti iz perspektive mladih: resursi iz života u skrbi, samopoimanje, osobne karakteristike i socijalna podrška. U radu se navode smjernice za razvoj programa osnaživanja mladih i boljih usluga socijalne podrške za mlade iz alternativne skrbi.

KEYWORDS:

• resilience
• care leavers
• internal resources
• social support
• positive outcomes

KLJUČNE RIJEČI:

• otpornost
• mladi koji su napustili alternativnu skrb
• unutarnji resursi
• socijalna podrška
• pozitivni ishodi

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ana Stojanović

Ana Stojanović completed her master’s studies at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. At the beginning of her studies, she participated in a congress of social work students with the topic ‘After-care assistance for juvenile offenders’. Through volunteering and additional education, she developed numerous skills during her studies. She has volunteer experience working with different groups of users – children of primary and secondary schools, children from alternative care, children with approved international protection, people with disabilities, and people with autism. She received the Rector award for socially beneficial work.

Ines Rezo Bagarić

Ines Rezo Bagarić, Ph.D., is a research and teaching assistant at the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. Her areas of scientific and professional interest are mental health and well-being of children and youth, parenting, and violence against children. She participated in several scientific research projects. She published nine scientific papers, four book chapters, and one co-authored book and participated in scientific conferences. She completed a series of education in qualitative and quantitative data analysis. She works with clients through gestalt psychotherapy and engages in the work of several professional associations.