Evaluación de resultados de los programas de apoyo a la transición a la vida adulta de jóvenes con medidas de acogimiento en el sistema de protección

Abstract

The socioeconomic changes of the last century have destandardized the transition to adulthood, which has become a long, irregular, and reversible process for today's youth, who usually rely on their family until they achieve their own stability. If achieving independence represents a complex task for any young person, international research has shown the challenge it poses for those who have suffered different traumatic experiences and have reached the age of majority under a protective measure. The care leavers group must undertake this process in an accelerated, risky way and with fewer resources, from a situation of vulnerability with the risk of presenting multiple problems that will hinder their integration, coulding be the situation even more complex for some specific profiles, such as the unaccompanied young migrants, and girls. The objective of the thesis has been to analyze the care leavers’ characteristics and needs, as well as the results of the interventions carried out to support them during their transition to adult life. The total sample was made up of 226 girls and boys, aged between 18 and 29 years (M = 19.25; SD = 1.59), of different origins and from various Autonomous Communities. Data collection was carried out in the most convenient place for participants, through individual interviews for which the necessary consents were collected. Different instruments were used: a semi-structured qualitative interview created ad hoc to explore the past and current situations of the sample with respect to different areas, a satisfaction questionnaire with the aftercare services also created ad hoc, and several standardized tests to measure the levels of self-esteem, well-being and psychological adjustment. Care leavers presented high rates of victimization in the explored experiences of neglect, maltreatment, and abuse, as well as various risk behaviors and high rates of mental health treatments, confirming the discomfort of this population. Regarding the areas identified as relevant for their socio-labor integration, low educational levels, precarious work situations, low income, and instability of accommodation were found, the situation being worse for those who had received aftercare support during less time. Furthermore, support networks were scarce and often characterized by professionals. Certain psychosocial adjustment problems were detected in part of the population, in terms of self-esteem, well-being and emotional and behavioral problems, with age, health problems and lack of support having a negative influence. Girls presented a higher incidence of psychological problems that was reflected in lower levels of psychosocial adjustment, while boys presented more criminal behaviors. On the other hand, unaccompanied young migrants were characterized by fewer traumatic experiences, psychological discomfort, mental health treatments, risky behaviors, and short stays in the childcare system. However, they presented greater difficulties in those relevant areas for a future socio-labor insertion. Satisfaction levels with transition services were quite high, especially about the relationship with educators and less with some benefits, especially financial aid. Girls benefited more from psychological support and accommodation, boys from labor insertion, and unaccompanied young migrants from legal support and less from financial aid. The results provide important reflections on the importance of offering continuous support to the entire care leavers’ population throughout the transition process, to make it as gradual and normalized as possible. It also emphasizes the compensatory role that support networks can have for this group and the importance of improving formal and informal supports. Finally, the greater vulnerability and suffering of the girls was evidenced, emphasizing the need to adopt a gender perspective in the actions carried out, as well as the greater risk of exclusion that unaccompanied young migrants must face, hence the importance of expediting permitting and considering its characteristics to implement transition programs.