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Focus Ireland Launches Internet Campaign Calling for Public Support to Help Secure A Legal Right to Aftercare to Protect Young People Leaving State Care
Focus Ireland launched a new Internet campaign calling for people to email Minister for Children, Barry Andrews TD, to add their voice to ongoing efforts to secure a legal right to aftercare for young people leaving State care.
The campaign was launched by two young woman Norelle and Niclette who are now successfully moving on to independent living with support from Focus Ireland's aftercare services.
Norelle said: "Most people don't realise that when a young person in care reaches 18 the State no longer has any legal obligation to support them. People can be left to fend for themselves and can run into many problems including becoming homeless if they do not have any one to turn to for support"
She added: "There is great support provided by organisations like Focus Ireland with backing from the HSE and the Government but this is not being provided for every young person that needs it.
Niclette added: "This is why we are asking people to add their own voice to the campaign to make the provision of aftercare a legal right and protect the futures of thousands of young people who will be leaving care this year and in the coming years."
Focus Ireland recently submitted a series of proposed amendments to the 1991 Child Care Act for the consideration of the Minister for Children Barry Andrews as part of its campaign to secure a right to aftercare. The Minister is currently considering the case for a right to aftercare and will respond in due course.
Focus Ireland's new internet campaign urges people to log on to www.focusireland.ie and send an e-mail to Minister Andrews' office in support of the housing and homeless charity's campaign
People can send a pre-written e-mail that acknowledges the existing aftercare support provided but highlights that not all young people leaving care - who need it - are not getting this support. The e-mail concludes by calling for the Minister to take action to make amendments to the Child Care Act that are required to secure aftercare as a statutory right.
Meanwhile, Focus Ireland's Director of Advocacy & Development Mike Allen stressed that if the Government placed the right to aftercare on a statutory footing to would protect the most vulnerable young people leaving State care from many problems including becoming homeless, addiction issues, exploitation and even getting involved in crime.
Many people using Focus Ireland's services have a history of leaving State care without support. Focus Ireland maintains that securing a right to aftercare would not only protect the young people themselves but it also makes financial sense as it would result in savings in the criminal justice system and other related services.
Mike Allen said:" A young person's vulnerability does not end simply by him/her reaching their 18th birthday. People may question calls for investment in aftercare services in this time of recession but Focus Ireland would ask how can we not afford to make this investment? The simple fact is that if we do make this investment the long-term cost to society will be a far higher price to pay."
He added: " For example, we are working with one young man who ran into difficulties after leaving care. He is still only 19 years of age but was homeless and staying in a hostel earlier this year that had people taking drugs all around him. Though our support he is now living in his own home in Focus Ireland and his own great determination has seen him continue in college. However. there are other people in that type of position who do not get the support hey need and they can get dragged into adult homelessness and drugs simply though lack of support at a key time in their life."
Focus Ireland stressed that not everyone leaving State Care requires support but it is vital that each person's needs are accessed well in advance of their 18th birthday to ensure the most vulnerable people get the support they need to help them move successfully on to independent living.
Focus Ireland said that the Department of Health and Children and the HSE fund some aftercare projects that provide "breathing space" for young people such as one the charity itself runs in Dublin. This provides 10 apartments for young people aged 18-21 where they live in a supported environment for a year after leaving care.
Focus Ireland staff work with the young people to support further development of life skills, build their confidence and also encourage for them to undertake education and work programmes to enable a smooth transition to independent living.
Focus Ireland provides other aftercare accommodation and also works in co-operation with the HSE to support young people before they leave care. However, the provision of these projects and services is not consistent across the country and as a result many young people are still falling through the gaps.
The need for targeted accommodation projects for young people leaving State Care was highlighted by Focus Ireland's research "Left Out On Their Own" in 2000. This research found that nearly 2/3 of those leaving Health Board care- who took part in the study - became homeless at some stage within the first two years of leaving care.
The charity recently published a new magazine titled: "Bridging the gap from care to home" which outlines the case for a right to aftercare and is aimed at building political and public support for the campaign. The Focus Ireland magazine has been disseminated to all Oireachtas members along with other relevant statutory & voluntary bodies. There are currently just over 5,000 people in State care with the vast majority in foster care while over 400 are in care in residential centres.
Additional Notes:
A total of 29 people who accessed Focus Ireland's Caretakers hostel in Dublin city centre last year came from a care background. The project is targeted at supporting young people with addiction problems sleeping rough. These are some of the most marginalised young people in the country and if they had received the right support when it was needed our experience shows they would not have developed so many problems.
Meanwhile, initial figures from a review of Focus Ireland's prison Inreach service show that a third of the prisoners on remand at Clover Hill Prison (Out of a total of 76 inmates linked in with Focus Ireland's In-Reach service) come from a care background. The charity works in co-operation with the prison and probation services and aims to provide a seamless service between prisons, homeless services and accommodation, supporting each man to access appropriate services and accommodation and a pathway to independent living upon release.