IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v108y2020ics0190740919307418.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

‘It was me, but it was them that helped me’: Exploring the issues for care experienced young people within higher education

Author

Listed:
  • Pinkney, Sharon
  • Walker, Gary

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a small study investigating the experiences of care experienced young people in relation to higher education in England. The findings are based on a literature review, interviews with young people studying at one University as well as interviews with University support staff. It also includes data from two focus groups with young people in care. The research shows that their success depends on a complexity of factors. In terms of support, young people did not benefit from unspecified and generalised help, but ongoing support that was relational, characterised by genuine concern, human warmth and knowledge of the young person. In addition, the research emphasises that supportive adults need to be non-judgemental, available and responsive in providing practical help as well as emotional support. These supportive adults, together with the provision of financial support, combined with the student’s own agency, resilience, internal drive and determination, provide a powerful set of factors that underpin success within higher education for care experienced students. Additionally this research provides further testament to the importance of enduring and trusting relationships for children in care.

Suggested Citation

  • Pinkney, Sharon & Walker, Gary, 2020. "‘It was me, but it was them that helped me’: Exploring the issues for care experienced young people within higher education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:108:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919307418
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104576
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740919307418
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104576?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jackson, Sonia & Cameron, Claire, 2012. "Leaving care: Looking ahead and aiming higher," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1107-1114.
    2. Geiger, Jennifer M. & Beltran, Susanny J., 2017. "Experiences and outcomes of foster care alumni in postsecondary education: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 186-197.
    3. Phillips, Lee Ann & Powers, Laurie E. & Geenen, Sarah & Schmidt, Jessica & Winges-Yanez, Nichole & McNeely, Isha Charlie & Merritt, Lindsay & Williamson, Candis & Turner, Shannon & Zweben, Harry & Bod, 2015. "Better Futures: A validated model for increasing postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 50-59.
    4. Salazar, Amy M. & Roe, Stephanie S. & Ullrich, Jessica S. & Haggerty, Kevin P., 2016. "Professional and youth perspectives on higher education-focused interventions for youth transitioning from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 23-34.
    5. Flynn, Robert J. & Tessier, Nicholas G., 2011. "Promotive and risk factors as concurrent predictors of educational outcomes in supported transitional living: Extended care and maintenance in Ontario, Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2498-2503.
    6. Cassarino-Perez, Luciana & Crous, Gemma & Goemans, Anouk & Montserrat, Carme & Sarriera, Jorge Castellà, 2018. "From care to education and employment: A meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 407-416.
    7. Stein, Mike, 2006. "Young people aging out of care: The poverty of theory," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 422-434, April.
    8. Berridge, David, 2017. "The education of children in care: Agency and resilience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 86-93.
    9. Filbert, Katharine M. & Flynn, Robert J., 2010. "Developmental and cultural assets and resilient outcomes in First Nations young people in care: An initial test of an explanatory model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 560-564, April.
    10. Rutman, Deborah & Hubberstey, Carol, 2018. "Fostering educational success of children and youth in care: Perspectives of youth with experience living in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 257-264.
    11. Daining, Clara & DePanfilis, Diane, 2007. "Resilience of youth in transition from out-of-home care to adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1158-1178, September.
    12. Berridge, David, 2012. "Educating young people in care: What have we learned?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1171-1175.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Stubbs, Alix & Baidawi, Susan & Mendes, Philip, 2023. "Young people transitioning from out-of-home care: their experience of informal support. A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    2. Ellis, Katie & Johnston, Claire, 2024. "Care and education: Instability, stigma and the responsibilisation of educational achievement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    3. Oldeide, Olin & Holsen, Ingrid & Fosse, Elisabeth, 2020. "Youth perspective on outreach service: A safety net for at-risk youth in a municipality," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    4. McLean, Lavinia & Penco, Rebecca, 2020. "Physical activity: Exploring the barriers and facilitators for the engagement of young people in residential care in Ireland," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blakeslee, Jennifer & Miller, Rebecca & Uretsky, Mathew, 2022. "Efficacy of the Project Futures self-determination coaching model for college students with foster care backgrounds and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    2. Townsend, Indra M. & Berger, Emily P. & Reupert, Andrea E., 2020. "Systematic review of the educational experiences of children in care: Children’s perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    3. Opsal, Tara & Eman, Rebecca, 2018. "Invisible vulnerability: Participant perceptions of a campus-based program for students without caregivers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 617-627.
    4. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2016. "In between formal and informal: Staff and youth relationships in care and after leaving care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 43-49.
    5. Disney, Tom & Walker, Charlie, 2023. "Young people leaving care and institutionalised vulnerability in the Russian Federation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Jackson, M. Sebrena & Dozier, Krystal & Colvin, Alex D. & Bullock, Angela N., 2022. "Exploring the self-efficacy of foster youth participating in a pre-college summer program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    7. Hiles, Dominic & Moss, Duncan & Wright, John & Dallos, Rudi, 2013. "Young people's experience of social support during the process of leaving care: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2059-2071.
    8. Melkman, Eran & Refaeli, Tehila & Benbenishty, Rami, 2016. "An empirical test of a model of academic expectations among youth in residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 133-141.
    9. Geiger, Jennifer M. & Piel, Megan Hayes & Day, Angelique & Schelbe, Lisa, 2018. "A descriptive analysis of programs serving foster care alumni in higher education: Challenges and opportunities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 287-294.
    10. Blakeslee, Jennifer E., 2015. "Measuring the support networks of transition-age foster youth: Preliminary validation of a social network assessment for research and practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 123-134.
    11. Leticia Cano-López & Yolanda María De la Fuente-Robles & Virginia Fuentes & María Aranda & Macarena Espinilla-Estévez, 2021. "How Does the Family Influence the Process of Transition to Adulthood? A Comparative Study of Young People with and without Family Ties in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-11, August.
    12. Lindner, Abigail Rose & Hanlon, Ryan, 2024. "Outcomes of youth with foster care experiences based on permanency outcome – Adoption, aging out, long-term foster care, and reunification: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    13. Okland, Idun & Oterholm, Inger, 2022. "Strengthening supportive networks for care leavers: A scoping review of social support interventions in child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    14. Höjer, Ingrid & Lindberg, Helena & Nielsen, Bo & Gustafsson, Jan-Eric & Johansson, Helena, 2018. "Recognition of education and schooling in case files for children and young people placed in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 135-142.
    15. Okpych, Nathanael J. & Courtney, Mark E., 2018. "The role of avoidant attachment on college persistence and completion among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 106-117.
    16. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Best, Jared I., 2019. "Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 220-230.
    17. Miller, Rebecca & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Ison, Chanel, 2020. "Exploring college student identity among young people with foster care histories and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    18. Kirkøen, Benedicte & Engell, Thomas & Follestad, Ingvild B. & Holen, Solveig & Hagen, Kristine Amlund, 2021. "Early academic struggles among children with home-based support from child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    19. Garcia-Molsosa, Marta & Collet-Sabé, Jordi & Montserrat, Carme, 2021. "What are the factors influencing the school functioning of children in residential care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    20. Geiger, Jennifer M. & Beltran, Susanny J., 2017. "Experiences and outcomes of foster care alumni in postsecondary education: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 186-197.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:108:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919307418. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.