"I remember thinking, why isn’t there someone to help me? Why isn’t there someone who can help me make sense of what I’m going through?": ‘Instant Adulthood’ and the transition of young people out of state care

Journal article


Rogers, R. 2011. "I remember thinking, why isn’t there someone to help me? Why isn’t there someone who can help me make sense of what I’m going through?": ‘Instant Adulthood’ and the transition of young people out of state care. Journal of Sociology. 47 (4), pp. 411-426. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783311420793
AuthorsRogers, R.
Abstract

Recent years has seen a shift away from youth transitions being understood as a linear progression towards conventional goals. Instead, it is now argued that youth transitions tend to be highly chaotic, often involving non-linear and fragmented movement between dependence and independence. However, this article discusses how young people leaving the state care system are seldom afforded the luxury of a more gradual and non-linear transition. Instead, for them, the possibilities of adult futures remain marked by chronic and continuing exclusion as they move abruptly into ‘instant adulthood’, with no opportunity to return to the child welfare system should they find themselves unable to make it on their own. Drawing from findings of 30 in-depth interviews with young care leavers, social workers and further and higher education institutions in the UK, the article considers the experiences of young people leaving state care, including their perceived lack of ‘care’, and the importance they place on unconditional and emotional support and contact.

Year2011
JournalJournal of Sociology
Journal citation47 (4), pp. 411-426
PublisherSAGE
ISSN1440-7833
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783311420793
Publication dates
PrintDec 2011
Publication process dates
Deposited11 Nov 2011
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/867q6/-i-remember-thinking-why-isn-t-there-someone-to-help-me-why-isn-t-there-someone-who-can-help-me-make-sense-of-what-i-m-going-through-instant-adulthood-and-the-transition-of-young-people-out-of-state

  • 113
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Parents who wait: acknowledging the support needs and vulnerabilities of approved adopters during their wait to become adoptive parents
Rogers, R. 2017. Parents who wait: acknowledging the support needs and vulnerabilities of approved adopters during their wait to become adoptive parents. Child & Family Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12417
Youth marginality in Britain: contemporary studies of austerity
Blackman, S. and Rogers, R. Blackman, S. and Rogers, R. (ed.) 2017. Youth marginality in Britain: contemporary studies of austerity. Bristol Policy Press.
Critically theorising young adult marginality: historical and contemporary perspectives
Blackman, S. and Rogers, R. 2017. Critically theorising young adult marginality: historical and contemporary perspectives. in: Blackman, S. and Rogers, R. (ed.) Marginality in Britain: Contemporary Studies of Austerity Bristol Policy Press.
Critically theorising young adult marginality: historical and contemporary perspectives
Blackman, S. and Rogers, R. 2017. Critically theorising young adult marginality: historical and contemporary perspectives. in: Blackman, S. and Rogers, R. (ed.) Marginality in Britain: Contemporary Studies of Austerity Bristol Policy Press.
Inter-agency adoption: subsidy of the inter-agency fee
Dance, C., Neil, E. and Rogers, R. 2017. Inter-agency adoption: subsidy of the inter-agency fee. Department for Education. https://doi.org/DFE-RR685
Taking responsibility for the provision of financial, housing, and emotional support for young people leaving care
Rogers, R. 2014. Taking responsibility for the provision of financial, housing, and emotional support for young people leaving care. Australian Social Work. 68 (1), pp. 99-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2013.868013
Past, present, future
Rogers, R. and Barnes, J. 2003. Past, present, future. Primary Geographer. 50, pp. 22-23.
Instant adulthood and the transition of young people out of state care
Rogers, R. 2011. Instant adulthood and the transition of young people out of state care.
Evaluation of the Charlton Athletic Social Inclusion Project
Rogers, R. 2009. Evaluation of the Charlton Athletic Social Inclusion Project.
Research into post 16 transition amongst Aimhigher Kent
Rogers, R. 2009. Research into post 16 transition amongst Aimhigher Kent. Aimhigher and Connexions Kent and Medway.
Evaluating community-based interventions for young people: measuring the impact of informal mentoring
Rogers, R. 2011. Evaluating community-based interventions for young people: measuring the impact of informal mentoring. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. 19 (2), pp. 159-168. https://doi.org/10.1332/175982711X574021
An analysis of conversion to UCAS 'Accepted Applicant' status of AHKM partnership school students
Apps, J., Bryant, R. and Rogers, R. 2010. An analysis of conversion to UCAS 'Accepted Applicant' status of AHKM partnership school students. Aimhigher Kent and Medway.
Post compulsory withdrawal rates amongst Aimhigher students
Rogers, R. 2009. Post compulsory withdrawal rates amongst Aimhigher students. Aimhigher Kent and Medway.
Evaluation of the Charlton Athletic Community Scheme
Rogers, R. and Godfrey, R. 2009. Evaluation of the Charlton Athletic Community Scheme.
Discourses of resistance and the hostile jobseeker
Rogers, R. 2002. Discourses of resistance and the hostile jobseeker. Benefits. 10 (33), pp. 19-23.
The ethics of the self and the social security discourse of the jobseeker
Rogers, R. 2002. The ethics of the self and the social security discourse of the jobseeker. PhD Thesis Brunel University School of Social Sciences
Images of community in New Labour social security discourse
Rogers, R. 2000. Images of community in New Labour social security discourse.
Fostering a human rights culture in the provision of social care for adults
Dean, H. and Rogers, R. 2002. Fostering a human rights culture in the provision of social care for adults.
Re-engaging with learning: an action research project into the impact of study support on disaffected secondary school students
Kirwan, A. and Rogers, R. 2004. Re-engaging with learning: an action research project into the impact of study support on disaffected secondary school students.
A critical analysis of youth participation
Rogers, R. 2004. A critical analysis of youth participation.
Developing transferable guidelines for evaluation
Rogers, R. and Bottle, G. 2004. Developing transferable guidelines for evaluation.
'Disengaged' - young people and the impact of study support
Barnes, T. and Rogers, R. 2004. 'Disengaged' - young people and the impact of study support.
Widening participation: who benefits?
Rogers, R. and Dismore, H. 2007. Widening participation: who benefits?
Target as a barrier to meaningful evaluation
Rogers, R. 2008. Target as a barrier to meaningful evaluation.
Aimhigher: Is it actually achieving its goals?
Rogers, R. 2008. Aimhigher: Is it actually achieving its goals?
Antisocial data? Problems with the use of police and criminal justice data in educational contexts
Rogers, R. and Godfrey, R. 2008. Antisocial data? Problems with the use of police and criminal justice data in educational contexts.
Limits of the widening participation agenda within post compulsory education and its significance for 'under-represented groups'
Rogers, R. 2008. Limits of the widening participation agenda within post compulsory education and its significance for 'under-represented groups'.
Soft benefits for hard nuts: the impact of community building interventions on 'anti-social youth'
Rogers, R. 2010. Soft benefits for hard nuts: the impact of community building interventions on 'anti-social youth'.
Transition into further education in Kent and Medway: an exploration into the experiences of care leavers
Rogers, R. 2010. Transition into further education in Kent and Medway: an exploration into the experiences of care leavers. Kent, UK Kent County Council and Medway County Council.
Fostering a human rights discourse in the provision of social care for adults
Ellis, K. and Rogers, R. 2004. Fostering a human rights discourse in the provision of social care for adults. in: Dean, H. (ed.) The Ethics of Welfare: Human Rights, Dependency and Responsibility Policy Press. pp. 89-110
Administering rights for dependent subjects
Dean, H. and Rogers, R. 2004. Administering rights for dependent subjects. in: Dean, H. (ed.) The Ethics of Welfare: Human Rights, Dependency and Responsibility Policy Press. pp. 111-134
Popular discourses of dependency, responsibility and rights
Dean, H. and Rogers, R. 2004. Popular discourses of dependency, responsibility and rights. in: Dean, H. (ed.) The Ethics of Welfare: Human Rights, Dependency and Responsibility Policy Press. pp. 68-88
Ethical techniques of the self and the 'good jobseeker'
Rogers, R. 2004. Ethical techniques of the self and the 'good jobseeker'. in: Dean, H. (ed.) The Ethics of Welfare: Human Rights, Dependency and Responsibility Bristol, UK Policy Press. pp. 155-172
Student perceptions of Aimhigher learning mentors and post 16 pastoral support
Rogers, R. 2010. Student perceptions of Aimhigher learning mentors and post 16 pastoral support. Practical Research in Education. 43, pp. 61-65.
Soft benefits for hard nuts: the impact of community-building interventions on 'anti-social youth'
Rogers, R. 2010. Soft benefits for hard nuts: the impact of community-building interventions on 'anti-social youth'. Pastoral Care in Education. 28 (3), pp. 195-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2010.504220
'No one helped out. It was like, “Get on with it. You're an adult now. It's up to you”. You don't … it's not like you reach 17 and suddenly you don't need any help anymore': a study into post-16 pastoral support for 'Aimhigher students'
Rogers, R. 2009. 'No one helped out. It was like, “Get on with it. You're an adult now. It's up to you”. You don't … it's not like you reach 17 and suddenly you don't need any help anymore': a study into post-16 pastoral support for 'Aimhigher students'. Pastoral Care in Education. 27 (2), pp. 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643940902897673
Evaluation of the special educational needs parent partnership services in England
Rogers, R., Tod, J., Powell, S., Parsons, C., Godfrey, R., Graham-Matheson, L., Carlson, A. and Cornwall, J. 2006. Evaluation of the special educational needs parent partnership services in England. London, UK Department for Education and Skills.
The ethics of the self and the social security discourse of the ‘jobseeker’
Rogers, R. 2002. The ethics of the self and the social security discourse of the ‘jobseeker’. PhD Thesis Brunel University