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Young people leaving care and institutionalised vulnerability in the Russian Federation

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  • Disney, Tom
  • Walker, Charlie

Abstract

Care leavers are often considered to constitute some of the most disadvantaged young people in society, and there exists a significant body of research that seeks to understand why some young people ‘succeed’, whereas others struggle due to accumulated ‘vulnerabilities’. Despite this extensive research base, policy and practice aiming to support young people leaving care remain diverse, indicating a lack of consensus on why some experience ‘poor outcomes’ and what might be done better to support them. This article focusses on the experiences of young people leaving care in the Russian Federation and makes two contributions; firstly, it provides theoretical insights through a critical discussion of the notion of vulnerability. We argue for attention to institutional vulnerabilities, which heavily structure the potential outcome of transitions available to young people leaving care in Russia. We note discourses and practices of dependency-related victim-blaming, which indicate the operation of ‘attribution errors’ in the Russian care and post-care systems, erroneously positioning individuals as responsible for their vulnerability rather than the dysfunction of systems of care. To fully understand the reasons for many young people’s ‘poorer outcomes’, we suggest refocussing attention towards the combined operation of discourses, systems and structures through the conceptual approach of ‘institutionalised vulnerability’. Secondly, the paper provides an empirical contribution in shedding light on the experiences of young people transitioning out of the care system as well as practitioners working in both the state and third sector in Russia, as the country experiences an ongoing process of deinstitutionalisation. This is important for other contexts given global efforts to deinstitutionalise residential child care settings.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:155:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923004218
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107225
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Sarewitz & Roger Pielke & Mojdeh Keykhah, 2003. "Vulnerability and Risk: Some Thoughts from a Political and Policy Perspective," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(4), pages 805-810, August.
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    5. Biehal, Nina & Clayden, Jasmine & Stein, Mike & Wade, Jim, 1994. "Leaving care in England: A research perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(3-4), pages 231-254.
    6. Brady, Eavan & Gilligan, Robbie, 2019. "Exploring diversity in the educational pathways of care-experienced adults: Findings from a life course study of education and care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Refaeli, Tehila, 2017. "Narratives of care leavers: What promotes resilience in transitions to independent lives?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-9.
    8. 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.
    9. McNamara, Patricia & Harvey, Andrew & Andrewartha, Lisa, 2019. "Passports out of poverty: Raising access to higher education for care leavers in Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 85-93.
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