Young people leaving care face many challenges. We have explored these in past webinars, looking at young people’s experiences of leaving care and how they could be better supported by extending care. In the wake of COVID-19, there is growing concern that young people leaving care will face even greater challenges.

This webinar reflected on past CFCA presentations and current responses in considering what may help support young care leavers during this pandemic. Recognising the increased risks of social isolation and psychological stress, presenters discussed strategies to strengthen young people’s social capital and improve their social and emotional wellbeing.

This webinar is of interest to policy makers and practitioners working with young people across a range of sectors, including out-of-home care, aftercare, mental health, education, employment, homelessness and housing.

Related resources

• Transitioning from care
  This webpage, produced by CREATE Foundation, provides resources for young people preparing to transition to independent adulthood, as well as COVID-19 updates.
• Care leavers’ well-being during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Key Messages for Leaving Care Workers
  This resource, produced by Coramvoice UK, offers practical strategies for workers in supporting young people leaving care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Beyond 18: The longitudinal study of leaving care
  Beyond 18 is a long-term research project about the lives of young people in out-of-home care and their experiences of leaving care in Victoria.
• Young people's experiences of leaving care and their support needs: Recent research and promising practices
  This webinar, produced by CFCA, discussed young people’s experiences of leaving care in Victoria and provided two examples of promising practices in New South Wales.
• Extending care: Supporting young people’s transition from out-of-home care to adulthood
  This webinar, produced by CFCA, discussed recent research on the social and economic benefits of extending care to young people transitioning to adulthood.
• Young people transitioning from out-of-home care: What do public inquiries tell us about the state of current policy and practice in Australia?
  This short article, published by CFCA, summarises key messages from recent public inquiries about supporting young people leaving out-of-home care.

Featured image: © GettyImages/franckreporter