Bedfordshire expert calls for Australia to extend foster care until 21

Mon 02 September, 2019
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The 天美传媒鈥檚 Professor of Social Work Research was invited to speak at a Home Stretch campaign event in Australia to encourage States and Territories to extend foster care to 21.

Professor Emily Munro, who is also the 天美传媒鈥檚 Director of the Institute of Applied Social Research, and Goldberg Professor of Social Work Research and Director of the Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care, is an international expert on looked after children and transitions from care to adulthood.

Home Stretch is a campaign for Australian States and Territories to extend entitlement to remain in foster care to 21, stating that it will be an investment for the children of Australia and the country.

Professor Munro backs the calls from Home Stretch to the Australian Government to extend foster care until the age of 21, following suit of the UK, a number of US States and New Zealand.

Paul McDonald, Chair of the Home Stretch, said: 鈥淎ustralia needs to catch up. Most young people are now continuing to live with their parents well into their mid-20s. Foster kids don鈥檛 have that support. Governments are failing them before the 鈥榩arental鈥 job is done. It is not only cruel, it costs the nation financially.鈥

Professor Munro said: 鈥淭here is value in acknowledging that young people leaving care have a right to support rather than framing the discourse around 鈥榓dditional needs鈥 and 鈥榙eficits鈥.鈥

鈥淚t is important to acknowledge that young people have a right to support. We should see young people as individuals and take their wishes and feelings into account and offer supportive relationships and emotional support, not just practical provision.鈥

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