A Longitudinal Study of Care Leavers in Israel: Personal and Social Resources Contributing to Functioning and Well-Being Four Years after Aging out of Residential Facilities

Background and Purpose

Studies around the world report that care leavers experience difficulties in multiple life domains. These studies also indicate that there is significant variability in life trajectories of different groups of care leavers within child welfare systems and across different countries. This study follows Israeli adolescents from their last year in residential facilities through their military service, up to about four year after leaving care. The study tests a model that examines how personal resources (optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy and future orientation) and environmental resources (parents and peer support and use of social services) in multiple points in time are associated with their functioning and well being four years after leaving care.

Methods
Sample: 276 adolescents in their last year in care institutions, 234 of them were interviewed a year later,  220 were interviewed again four years after leaving care (response rate: 79.7%).
Structured and validated questionnaires examined supports from parents and friends, personal resources while in care including, optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy and future orientation. In T2 instruments measured adaption to work/school/military service and well- being (including life satisfaction and mental distress). In T3 instruments assess accommodation, employment, income and economic situation, education, use of alcohol and drugs and well-being. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with auto-regressive paths was conducted to examine the theoretical model (n = 208).

Findings

Findings indicate that, although struggling with difficulties in multiple domains, and especially financially and during military service, Israeli care leavers were experiencing better social support and life situations than described in much of the American and European literature. Only a few reported homelessness, a low percentage experienced unemployment and a high percentage obtained a full matriculation diploma.

The SEM model had reasonable fit to the data χ2(552, N = 208) =724.33, p = .00, TLI = . 921, CFI = . 934, SRMR = .068, RMSEA = .039  (90% CI =.030; .046). It indicated that background and personal and social resources were associated with current functioning and well being in a complex pattern. Young women experience more economic and emotional distress than young men, but also were more active in acquiring higher education. Adolescents who spent fewer years in last placement have experienced more emotional distress. Higher personal resources were associated with low economic distress, future orientation predicted a higher activities toward higher education and self-efficacy predicted higher life satisfaction Support from mother and friends were not associated with education but predicted higher life satisfaction, and mother support predicted low emotional distress.

Conclusions and Implications
The outcomes of leaving care may be dependent on multiple nested contexts: country, care system, social group and the individual. The results highlight the importance and the contribution of the relationship with parents. Hence the need for working with parents to improve the relationships while in care and in follow-up programs. Services should be tailored to reflect both the unique care situation and personal needs and circumstances of individuals. Limitations include a response rate of 80%, and a limited sample size.