Social and vocational integration of youth leaving residential care

In ex-socialist countries tens of thousands of children and youth still live in social institutions (orphanages), although majority of them have alive biological parents. After turning 18 they must leave the orphanage and start independent life, in many cases without appropriate education, practical skills and adequate cultural and social capital. That is the main reason of risk of social exclsuion. The author attempts to explain the main risks of social exclsuion for care leavers and points some important steps that should be taken to lessen the risk of social exclusion of those young people and discuss necessary political interventions  to improve the inclusion of care leavers.

The analyses is based on the data from a research Inclusion of Youth after leaving institutional care (EU PROGRESS Programme) in five countries (Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, France and Italy). Study is based on expert interviews, interviews with young people leaving care, focus group discussions with care leavers and policy analyses in all five countries.