Life after Residential Care: Experiences of Care-Leavers and Care-Givers in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

There is a proliferation of alternative care institutions in Lagos state, Nigeria due to the rise in the number of orphans and other vulnerable children and young people, estimated at 17.5 million. Many of these children who otherwise be absorbed by the extended family are rather growing up in alternative care institutions due to the growing levels of poverty. Children in these institutions, who are not reunified with their families or adopted, have to make a transition to independent living when they reach 18 years. However, there has been no study investigating the aftercare experiences of care-leavers in Lagos, Nigeria. This study explores how the care-leavers fare as independent adults. This study explores how the care-leavers fare as independent adults. The study adopted a phenomenological qualitative design with 26 participants (care-leavers, social workers, and caregivers) purposely sampled from three residential care institutions. Data was collected through unstructured interviews with an audio recorder, after which the data collected were analysed using a thematic approach. The findings suggest that although care-leavers were given preparation for life after care, there were barriers that inhibited them being adequately prepared. The care-leavers faced challenges including job, finance, accommodation, and social isolation. Despite these challenges, the young adults were able to cope by mobilizing both personal and social resources. Personal resources included persistence, hope of a brighter future, fear of failing, and engagement in menial jobs. The social factors, on the other hand, included formal and informal social support care-leavers tapped in for improved transitional outcomes. To improve the plight of care-leavers in Lagos State, it is recommended that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should provide care-leavers with aftercare support to assist them to adjust to life on their own. In addition, the institutions where the care-leavers transition from should find strategies to adequately prepare them for independent living. Finally, social workers should educate the society on the challenges care-leavers face in the state as well advocate for their rights, so as to lobby for policies that will ensure the provision of aftercare services to care-leavers in Lagos state.