Presentation to ACWA Conference 2012

1. Young people transitioning from Out-of-Home Care in Victoria: Strengthening interagency collaboration, leaving care plans and post-care support services for dual clients of Child Protection and Youth Justice by Philip Mendes, Pamela Snow & Susan Baidawi, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University Presentation to ACWA Conference 2012

2. Aim of Research: To identify practices and policies that will reduce the over-representation of young people Leaving Out-of-Home Care (OHC) through entry into the Youth Justice system, and promote their inclusion in mainstream social and economic life.

3. Rationale for Research: care leavers ad disadvantaged group who are over-represented in criminal justice system. This has negative health and socio-economic implications. Number of factors which contribute to this over-representation such as child abuse and neglect, gender, time of entry into care, residential care, and unsupported transitions from care.

4. Key objectives of study: • 1) Why are they over-represented? • 2) Inter-agency collaboration between child protection and youth justice. • 3) What are their demographic backgrounds and risk trajectories? • 4) Identify social and educational preventive programs.

5. Methodology: partnership with seven child and youth welfare agencies in Victoria; • Qualitative exploratory design exploring perspectives of key workers and young people involved in both systems. 77 workers involved in consultations to date.

6. Key findings: • 1) Unaddressed trauma and attachment issues arising from child abuse and neglect; • 2) Variable level of inter-agency collaboration reflecting lack of protocols; • 3) Youth Justice system not able to address complex issues. • 4) Poor leaving care supports including lack of housing contributes to involvement in offending.

7. Further research: • More systematic data collection on profiles and history of dual order young people • Inter-agency collaboration in the residential care context.