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Publication Detailed Description
Staff and youth views on autonomy and emancipation from residential care: a participatory research study
Journal Title
Evaluation and Program Planning
Year (definitive publication)
2013
Language
English
Country
United States of America
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Abstract
The use of participatory approaches in designing services is still relatively uncommon. In this study, we helped design a service to support the transition of youth from residential care to independent living by exploring the perspectives of staff and of youth regarding: a) the concept and development of autonomy; and b) key factors in developing this type of service. We gathered the data through 10 interviews with staff (n = 10) and 4 focus groups with youth (n = 21), and subjected the data to a thematic content analysis. Staff defined autonomy as self-regulation and self-care, and identified three paths to foster autonomy - a sense of normality, meaningful relationships, and planning for emancipation. The staff and youth identified the following important aspects in designing the service: achieving normality (e.g. limited number of residents), promoting youth capacity (e.g. skill-building activities), providing social support (e.g. trust and respect between residents), and assuring guidance and boundaries (e.g. supervision of youth).
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
Participatory Research Approach,Services Design,Residential Care,Transition to Independent Living
Fields of Science and Technology Classification
- Other Social Sciences - Social Sciences
Funding Records
| Funding Reference | Funding Entity |
|---|---|
| PEst-OE/PSI/UI3125/2013 | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia |
