The Longer Term Contributions of Formal and Informal Support

Abstract

Drawing on the findings of a qualitative follow-up study of 29 Jordanian care leavers, this chapter demonstrates how a combination of formal and informal support has contributed positively to care leavers’ longer term outcomes. The support that the care leavers were offered by the growing formal entities, as well as their affiliation with adults and families outside care, enabled them to deal successfully with issues such engaging in higher education, achieving security in accommodations, and home ownership. The chapter demonstrates that the young adults were able to use the opportunities given to them to achieve progress despite an economic climate that challenges all young people and an often-unforgiving social context that strongly stigmatizes care leavers. Focusing on factors that promote positive outcomes for care leavers, this chapter offers considerations for practice and for policy and contributes to the growing body of international research on this topic generally, and specifically from developing economies.