Safe and stable housing is vital to the well-being of both young parents transitioning from out-of-home care and their children. International research has examined the strengths and weaknesses of placement and aftercare housing arrangements for this cohort. For example, residential care may offer a range of on-site supports for young mothers and their children but can also limit autonomy and lead to unhealthy peer relationships. Semi-independent living placements may provide young mothers and their babies more privacy, but often require strict eligibility criteria. Research on mother and baby foster placements suggest some carers struggle to balance the provision of appropriate practical supports and monitoring for safety concerns. Transitioning from out-of-home care places young parents and their children at a higher risk of homelessness due to a lack of affordable private rentals, excessive waiting lists for government subsidised housing, and high rates of family and domestic violence.
Little is known about placement and post-care housing needs and preferences among care-experienced young parents in Australia. This paper presents findings from a larger, mixed-methods study investigating early parenthood within the context of out-of-home care in the state of New South Wales. Forty-five professionals and foster/kinship carers responded to a survey containing open and closed questions. Individual interviews with 15 stakeholders included professionals who support young parents in and exiting care, a foster carer for a young mother, and three young mothers who had children while in care, or recently after exiting care. Young mothers were aged 18-19 at the time of interviews and caring for children under the age of 2. No young fathers were identified as potential participants. Results will be described including descriptive statistics for survey results, and interview findings analysed using Braun & Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
Survey responses suggest a shortage of placements for co-residing young mothers and their children. Carers report that they are unlikely to host mother and baby placements due to a lack of space and the potential impact on their families. A common theme within open-ended survey responses and interviews with professionals, carers, and young mothers is that there is no one best placement type for this cohort. However, most survey respondents indicate that semi-independent living placements are the most suitable placement type to promote parenting skill development and supported transitions to independence. Findings from each stakeholder group highlight the importance of placement-matching and aftercare housing services to meet individual need and strike a balance between structure and independence. Concerns about the quality and availability of aftercare housing options are shared by young mothers and professionals. Findings from this study will be contextualised within New South Wales policies, including a range of government funded programmes and recent changes expanding supports for care leavers and extending carer payments to enable more young people to remain with their carers until the age of 21.