Transitioning out of Residential Care in Jordan: Pathways

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Transitioning out of Residential Care in Jordan
Pathways OutcomesEmerging findings from a
doctoral research study
9th July 2008 Keble College, Oxford

• Rawan W. Ibrahim
• School of Social Work Psychology
• University of East Anglia, Norwich UK
• Supervisors Dr. Jonathan Dickens, Professor
  David Howe

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Current Research Aim Research Questions

• Exploration into what Jordanian care leavers face
  preparedness?
• Identify whats working in a Jordanian Context
• Socio economic conditions
• Limited formal support absent leaving care
  policies
• Strong cultural norms
• Jordanising Steins Resilience Diamond
• Equally important Giving Jordanian care leavers
  a voice

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Methodology

• In-depth semi structured interviews
• Small questionnaire to collect background data
• 42 Interviews (21 , 21 ) 2 focus
  groups
• Access
• Began through homes in contact with some care
• leavers
• Personal contacts
• Attended a wedding of two couples
• Snow-balling

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Participant Profile

• Pathways in Known families 57, Unknown/Hidden
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• Age _at_ Interview 17-28
• Average time out of care approx. 4 years (0-10)
• Range of time in care Average 14 years (3-21)
• Qualifications at Discharge
• No Qualifications 58 (25)
• Formal Quals 24 (10)
• Siblings, married couples, married with children

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Against current economic circumstances .
Employment
.Culture Stigma

Support Network Relationships
Pre Care In Care Experience
Ad hoc preparation, no follow up, absent post
care legislation and limited post care formal
support
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Emerging Themes Influence of Cultural Norms

• _at_Family based culture and transitioning_at_
• Stigma (A constant thread)
• Tarnished Dysfunctional family
• The Scarlet Letter Distinguishing national
  identification cards (Intended to protect family
  NOT stigmatise)
• Social life relationships, employment,
  accommodation
• Acceptance, Support Inclusion
• Impacting same life areas, and improving outcomes

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Roots Forms of Stigma

• Roots
• Rejection of not conforming to cultural and
  religious parameters
• and expectations
• Paying the price rejected for behaviours
  actions by families
• perceived to be e.g. sinful immoral
  (born out of
• marriage, criminal behaviour)
• Forms of Stigma Discrimination labelling, pity
  sliding rules,
• easy prey

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Juggling Daily Responsibilities Female Single
Accommodation

• Responsibilities like today I cant buy this or
  do that Ive
• got to save a few here and there for electricity
  and water. And
• now were all girls living here, so weve got the
  responsibility
• of making sure that no one finds out theres a
  bunch of
• single girls living herethats something that I
  guard very
• carefully.
• Intvw. 6. Nazek

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Managing Coping with Stigma

• Legitimate Lies
• Matter of Fact Lies
• Elaborate Glamorous Lies
• Practical Lies
• Being up front about care history
• Keeping Low Profile limiting social life
• Maintaining tight lid on care history
• Limited disclosure limited to certain people
  after time

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Cultural Influence on Discharge Process
Accommodation Type

• Known Families 57
• 84.6 Females returned to families (11/13)
• 27.2 Males returned to families (3 /11)
• Unknown/ Hidden Families
• Females Marriage, student halls
• Males Single shared flats, abandoned

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Parameters of Larger Jordanian Family
Coerced back into (nuclear) family? Marriage?
Supported?
Care
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Example of Stigma Prospect Marriage

• how are you going to marry a girl from there?
  his older
• brother for example said because she lives
  there, that
• girl is going to be very evil! this was part of
  the terminology
• usedshes going to be very evil and shes not
  going to
• listen to you because her family did not put her
  there
• unless she was stubborn and violent!
• Intvw.6. Nazek

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Marriage Accepted Included in the Family

• She didn't even ask me about my background he'd
  explained
• everything to them, I didn't need to do that. His
  sisters also knew
• And they never made me feel inferior or ask about
  anything
• at all. They were amazing. Even till nowI
  always call her
• Auntie. We're such good friends. And she even
  gives me money
• during Eid, like she does for her
  daughters...They always stand
• by me, theyre amazing.
• Intv.17 Jebbara

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Support, Inclusion Life Areas

• Accommodation Taken in (up to 4 years), feeling
  part of (Arab) family, stability secure base,
  allowing personal and professional growth.
• Financial Sponsorship Pocket money, sponsoring
  education/ vocational training, emergencies and
  hard times.
• Employment High expectations, advancing skills
• Relationships Support networks (emergencies),
  guidance empowerment, linked to a family

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Main Concluding Points (Focusing on Support
Inclusion)

• Social values impacts practice, transitions and
  outcome groups
• Jordanian groups Jordanised Stein Diamond
• Positive cultural aspects should be formally
  incorporated to formulate culturally appropriate
  post care services
• Parameters of study not limited to Jordan (Muslim
  / Arab young people in Western care systems?,
  other Middle Eastern countries due to the shared
  culture)
• Giving Arab care leavers a voice

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Thank You!
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