Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Aftercare Service for Separated Children Ireland 15 September 2017 Metasebia Kereta What is Aftercare? What does it involve? • Education, training and employment • Support with transition from care • Housing/ accommodation • Independent living skills • Voluntary service • Financial support and management • Advocacy • Asylum and immigration • Sign Posting • Family reunification • Health and other supports as appropriate e.g. counselling, key working, assistance Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 1
Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Legislation / Law Governing Aftercare • Eligibility Provision in Ireland • Age • Length of time in state care • Developing in-house procedures Section 45 of Child Care Act, 1991. • Aftercare Needs Assessment Section 45 Child Care Act, 1991 (as • Aftercare Plan amended in 2015) will come to effect • Aftercare Reviews in September 2017. • Standardised Aftercare Allowance Structure of Our Service Social Work Team Leader 6 Aftercare Workers Aftercare Social Work Team Leader 5 Social Children In Workers Care Principal Social Worker Social Work 1 Fostering Team Leader Social Duty Worker Social Work Team Leader Admin Fostering Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 2
Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Journey of our Aftercare Service 5 children’s hostels (when there was crisis in 2001 – 1085 referrals) Closing of hostels (under the Equity of Hostels and Closing of Care Principle) Aftercare Hostels Residential Units Residential units and supported lodgings placement (through private agencies and our own recruitment) State provided accommodation for adult asylum seekers Private rented accommodations Shift in Service Provision and Change of Roles Project Workers Aftercare Workers • No more hostels for children • Planned support during leaving care • Children in family placements (fostering or supported lodgings) • Leaving Care plans • Adult asylum seekers hostels • Supports through Aftercare (State provided accommodation with plans and reviews for adult asylum seekers) • Emergency response Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 3
Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Aftercare Statistics for Team for Separated Children Age Breakdown • Currently we have 80 aftercare cases allocated to aftercare workers. under 16 16 ‐ 18 • Waiting list (currently none) 18 ‐ 21 over 21 Aftercare Referral and Allocation System Drop-in Allocation Aftercare Aftercare Aftercare Duty and Leaving Needs Plan and Referral Service, Care Plan Assessment Reviews Sign-posting Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 4
Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Challenges • Legislation / Aftercare policy • No mention of Separated Children and their specific needs • Eligibility criteria • Age, length of time in care, residency status • Lack of knowledge within other SW areas, Gov. Agencies, NGO’s • Length of asylum process • Lack of coordination between agencies • Conflicting priorities between government agencies Challenges continued... • Family reunification • Conflicting opinions between social workers, aftercare workers and the young person • Access to basic entitlements: social welfare, education, housing, location • Challenges for the YP: financial burden, exploitation, restrictions on travel Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 5
Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Proposed Solutions Advocacy Creating discussion platforms between government and non ‐ government agencies Recognition of UAMs in Aftercare policy and decision making Coordination and planning Child/Young person centered approach Case Study 1 The K Family Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 6
Team for Separated Children Seeking 9/14/2017 Asylum, Ireland Contact Details Metasebia Kereta: Aftercare Worker Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum Sir Patrick Duns Hospital, Lower Grand Canal Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Child and Family Agency, TUSLA metasebia.kereta@tusla.ie Metasebia Kereta : Child and Family Agency, TUSLA 2017 7
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