Does Out-Of-Home Care Prepare Youth for Adulthood?

Children are removed from their birth parents and placed into out-of-home (OOH) care when there is reason to believe they are at risk of harm. OOH is intended to provide stability and permanency for children. For some children, OOH care is a temporary measure until they return to their families. For a few Australian children, OOH care leads to adoption in a new permanent family. However, a significant number of children remain in foster care until they reach the age of 18 when they age-out of the welfare system. A question arises of whether OOH care provides good preparation for successful adulthood.