Foster care, recognition and transitions to adulthood for unaccompanied asylum seeking young people in England and Ireland

Sirriyeh, Ala ORCID: 0000-0002-1866-8901 and Ní Raghallaigh, Muireann (2018) Foster care, recognition and transitions to adulthood for unaccompanied asylum seeking young people in England and Ireland. Children and Youth Services Review, 92. pp. 89-97.

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Abstract

Policy in England and Ireland emphasizes the use of foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors (URM). Research has highlighted the predominantly positive experiences of young people in this form of care. Drawing on “recognition theory” (Honneth, 2012), this article examines the role of foster care in supporting URM transitions to adulthood. Young people are likely to have had traumatic and challenging experiences prior to their arrival in England and Ireland. They also face the challenge of settling into life in a new country, while often experiencing difficulties and stigma related to their identities as asylum seekers, but also as young people in care. Meanwhile, their transitions to adulthood are overshadowed by uncertainties about the future. Recognition theory identifies emotional, social, and legal recognition in human relationships as central to developing and maintaining people's well-being (Honneth, 2012; Warming, 2015). We argue that foster placements can provide the conditions necessary to support these three elements of recognition and, by doing so, can support transitions to adulthood. This argument is based on findings from two studies, in England (2012) and Ireland (2013), which explored experiences of URM in foster care.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clinical Research, 7.1 Individual care needs, 7 Management of diseases and conditions, Disputed aetiology and other
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2018 15:45
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2024 01:58
DOI:	10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.039
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3019258