Social Work Identify observable characteristics of a life transition in the life of young people leaving care? Significant influencing factors determining the process and. their implication for social work practice?

Characteristics of a life transition observable in young people leaving care vary from person to person, and must be understood within a cultural context. The parameters of what constitutes a normative life transition are flexible. The timing of life transitions in young people leaving care depends on individual, family, and community characteristics including external factors such as availability of jobs, educational opportunities, and housing options (Ravanera, Rajulton & Burch 2002). Legal constraints might also impact the characteristics of the life transition. For example, until an individual is eighteen years of age, he or she does not yet enjoy the full rights and responsibilities of clients who are of adult age.

Leaving home, graduating school, forming intimate relationships that may or may not involve domestic partnerships, engaging in mentoring or career training programs, and other features of life transition may be immediately observable in a young person about to leave care. In the case with young children, the life transition characteristics will depend firmly on decisions that primary caregivers make.

Changes in social alignment and networking groups may also signal life transitions among young people. Any of the identifiable characteristics of life transitions that are observable in young people must be understood within a culturally appropriate framework. Within each ethnic or cultural group, norms guiding behavior will also vary according to gender.

The family background and perceived social class will also have a strong bearing on the life transitions of young people, especially as they leave care. Decisions on whether to enter the workforce or pursue higher education may be shaped by family background as well as personal ambitions and peer groups. The means by which the young person forms an identity will shape the manifestation of the life transition. There may be some service users who become involved...

Others will make a smoother transition from grade school to college or the workforce. Whether or not the young person leaves home is a major issue affecting the characteristics of the life transition. Occasionally the young person leaving care also relocates geographically, either voluntarily or because they are not yet of major age and still under the supervision of caregivers who are themselves relocating.
Crime and delinquency will occasionally manifest as symptoms of underlying problems related to difficulties with the life transition and/or with the process of terminating care. Signs of drug use or criminal behavior need to be taken seriously as means by which young people cope with uncomfortable, unforeseen, or undesirable change.

The implications for social work practice include the following. Social workers need to be aware of the different characteristics of life transitions in young service users terminating treatment. Characteristics will be related to leaving home, starting intimate relationships, forming new peer group alliances, embarking on a career path, or becoming involved in crime. Social workers must place life transitions firmly within the context of the client's background, including family, community, ethnic, and peer group. Sexual orientation and other issues related to client identity may also have an impact on the life transition.

Critically appraise the concept of identity and its relevance to understanding service user in their life situation.

The concept of identity is relevant for both social worker and for service user. The social worker's identity has a strong bearing on the nature and quality of care. Social workers must be aware of the issues that impact care delivery that are rooted in identity such as the manifestation of bias and prejudice. Issues like religion and sexual orientation are related…