Advice Foster Child Transitioning to Adult

There comes a time in every young person’s life where they move past their childhood and enter the realm of the grown-ups. As a foster carer, you will be there to provide ongoing support during the transition to adulthood. This time can be one of great joy and excitement, but it also comes with lots of challenges. Read on to find out more about preparing for a foster child reaching adulthood and to learn about aftercare planning.

If you’re interested in foster care, please reach out to Orchard Fostering today. We’re available on the phone or via email – you can also fill out a form directly on our contact page.

The transition to adulthood – when does it happen?

There is no set time for beginning of adulthood – young people can start developing and growing toward adulthood earlier or later than their peers. The main way to recognise the beginnings of the transition to adulthood are when young people start ‘testing the waters’ of their lives. As their adolescent brain develops, young people start trying to figure themselves out. This ‘figuring out’ can be manifest itself in the pursuit of new skills or hobbies, the taking on of new roles and responsibilities, or the pushing of previously established boundaries (in home, school or personal life). You may also notice physical or emotional changes in the young person in your care, as they develop into their adult selves.

While there is no set date for the beginning of adulthood, keeping an eye out for the signs above can help you provide ongoing support during the transition to adulthood.

Challenges young people in care may face in the transition to adulthood

A young person in Foster Care faces unique challenges during the transition to adulthood. In addition to the typical emotional, physical and social changes, young people in long-term foster care also have to contend with additional factors as they come of age. Young people in care can sometimes find adjusting to life outside of care challenging, as the support systems they are used to shift and change. Foster Carers – and those working with a young person approaching adulthood – aim to eliminate feelings of instability and any difficulties or barriers affecting a young person’s pursuit of higher education or employment. Many young people thrive as they enter adulthood and they receive support from their Core Group in the run-up to their emergence into the adult world. This is called ‘aftercare’.

What is Aftercare? About Our Foster Aftercare Services

An Aftercare plan is developed after a young person’s sixteenth birthday and its purpose is to provide as smooth a pathway to independence as is possible. To be eligible for Aftercare services a young person must have been in Foster Care for not less than twelve months of the previous five years. A young person has an allocated Aftercare Worker and together they identify important supports, goals and services. Aftercare support can take place in Foster Care up to the age of 21 years – or up to 23 years if in education / training. The plan outlines support in important areas, such as:

Education, training and employment.
Health and wellbeing.
Finance and budgeting.

The role of a Foster Carer as part of the team supporting a young person’s Aftercare journey is crucial. It involves:

Supporting and guiding young people throughout their foster placement in making positive choices for themselves.
Supporting and guiding young people in learning about practical elements of life including cooking, cleaning, self-care, managing their money.
Having open and honest conversations with young people about their health, relationships, sex education and keeping themselves safe.

Much more information about the role of a Foster Carer, Aftercare services and the transition to adulthood for young people in Foster Care can be discussed with us during a Fostering assessment.

Supporting young people in the transition to adulthood

Equipping the young person in your care with the life skills they need to thrive in the adult world is a key component of the Foster Carer’s mission. By modelling positive outlooks, building confidence, developing a problem-solving attitude to challenges and teaching self-care, a foster carer can help ensure a young person’s successful transition to adulthood. Let’s examine some methods for incorporating these ideals into the young person in your care’s life.

Be positive in all aspects of life

Embracing positivity in your everyday language will build positive outlooks into the young person in your care’s way of thinking. Incorporate positivity into every discussion – whether it is of the past, the present, or the future. Future-positive conversations (‘when you’re working your dream job;’ ‘when you’re doing your course’) can be particularly helpful, as they will help ease the transition awaiting the young person in your care.

Encourage decision-making and empower them with responsibilities to promote confidence

Confidence is key for young people in care. As they grow older, young people in care may start to doubt themselves, which can damage their confidence. As such, their confidence needs to be protected. By encouraging the young person in your care to make decisions (small ones to start, gradually growing in importance over time), you can help them build confidence through the development of responsibility for themselves – something they will need in the adult world.

Accept challenges and face them head-on

The combination of positivity and responsibility should make accepting and facing challenges easier for the young person in your care. The child in your care will have faced challenges in their youth – your job is to make sure they face them with a brave face and willingness to learn.