Optimising Care for Young Adults: An Integrated Theoretical Model for Supporting Care Leavers

This peer-reviewed study develops an integrated theoretical model to understand and support young adults leaving foster and institutional care after age 18 in India. The model combines social, psychological, and developmental perspectives to explain how personal characteristics, societal environment, and systemic factors interact to affect care leavers' outcomes. The authors argue that this comprehensive framework can guide more effective interventions tailored to the complex needs of this vulnerable population.

Key points

• Care leavers face numerous obstacles impacting their overall welfare after leaving foster and institutional care at age 18
• The model integrates multiple theoretical perspectives: social, psychological, and developmental
• Three interconnected domains are recognized: personal attributes, societal environment, and systemic elements
• The framework is intended to guide design of more complete and effective interventions
• Addressing multiple needs of care leavers can increase their overall well-being

Limitations

The document is a theoretical framework paper and does not report empirical testing, outcome data, or evidence of whether the proposed model actually improves care leavers' outcomes. It cannot tell us what specific interventions work best or how the framework performs in practice.