Minister confirms additional aftercare staff and development of a National Aftercare Service
Launches Research on Young People Leaving CareMinister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald will today launch Empowering People in Care (EPIC). This is the new name and identity for the Irish Association of Young People in Care. The Minister will also launch the initial findings of a study undertaken into the ‘Outcomes for young people leaving care’.
65 young people who left care were surveyed and the research indicates that:
· 26 of the 65 cited Social Welfare as their main source of income;
· 26 of the 65 surveyed had mental health needs, with counselling identified as the most common type of health service that young people needed but were not receiving;
· 13 of the 65 had experienced homelessness at sometime in the previous nine months;
· 24 of the 65 had inadequate independent living skills particulary in relation to rent and budgeting.
Addressing the launch, Minister Fitzgerald commended the the Irish Association of Young People in Care/EPIC for: "their important and vital presence in Irish society, working with and advocating on behalf of young people who are in care" and she told delegates that "your new name better reflects the ethos of your organisation and the truly epic work you do".
Launching the research findings, Minster Fitzgerald stated:
"As the research launched here today highlights, the provision of an appropriate aftercare service is a vital element in seeking to achieve positive outcomes for young people leaving care and I wish to affirm that as Minster for Children and Youth Affairs I am determined to oversee the successful development of a National Aftercare Service.
"The importance of having an appropriate aftercare service is reflected in the National Aftercare Policy developed by the HSE. This policy will guide and underpin the current process which is underway to establish a National Aftercare Service which will formalise and standardise the provision of aftercare services nationwide.
"This work is currently being planned and organised by an Aftercare Implementation Group and I am very happy that this group includes a young person representative from EPIC, whose experience and knowledge of care and of leaving care is invaluable.
"I am happy to further report that ten additional Aftercare worker posts are now in the process of being filled and their contracts will identify a need for flexible working hours. This additional resource will hopefully make a difference as we seek to roll-out a National Aftercare Service".