For young people who live in child and youth care facilities or with foster parents, reaching the age of majority brings particular challenges in addition to the developmental tasks with which they are faced. To support the transition to independence – that is, the process of ‘leaving care’ – child and youth welfare services can provide what is known as ‘support for young adults’ (Hilfen für junge Erwachsene, HfjE). This study examines how HfjE is granted in practice from the perspectives of professionals, foster parents, adolescents and young adults.
Publication (in German): Kapella, Olaf; Hornung, Helena; Schmidt, Eva-Maria (2026): Care Leaver: Entscheidung zu Hilfen für junge Erwachsene. Gewährungspraxen in der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe in Österreich. Wien (ÖIF Forschungsbericht 60).
