Independent living skills

INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS)

Conveners

  • Dr. Laura García Alba (University of Oviedo, Spain)
  • Michael Starr (Northumbria University, UK)

Terms of Reference

The INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS) – is to be established in 2024 and aims to provide a dedicated space for researchers and practitioners focused on young people transitioning from out-of-home care (OOHC) and their ILS development and acquisition.

INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS) will largely be a virtual Thematic Group and provide a forum for sharing knowledge, policy and intervention/practice.

Background and focus

ILS are a key component of preparation for leaving care and life beyond care. It is widely understood that for the transition from care to be as successful as it can be, preparation and planning should be the foundation for ‘moving on’.

Additionally, reliable relationships and support systems are the source for the preparation work. The preparation work is the development of ILS, across different aspects of life.

Also, in recognising that developing ILS and experiencing more preparation for leaving are key components to success and better outcomes in many areas, such as managing housing, health, finances, and relationships, we too recognise that ILS are acquired over the life-course, as and when needed.

The thematic focus of the group is broad-based and interdisciplinary, including:

  • Regional and national policies and program models aimed at preparation for leaving care and the development of ILS;
  • Conceptualizing and building theory around the idea of ILS;
  • Developing and using instruments and methods to assess perceived ILS;
  • Experiences and narratives of care-experienced people about their preparation, including both early and later-life reflections;
  • Development, implementation and evaluation of program models aimed at providing preparation and ILS for leaving care.

Purpose and objectives

The INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS) recognises the vital significance of ILS for each aspect of young people’s lives.

The purpose of the INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS) is to provide a structure to map, understand, and progress international ILS research and policy activity.

The INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS) holds an international focus central to its work to build the best understanding possible of the most current ideas. Also, acknowledging that care-experienced young people internationally have similar needs against a range of different ILS domains.

The objectives of the INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS) are to:

  1. Enhance knowledge of the impact of ILS and potential improved outcomes from an ILS focus;
  2. Discuss methodological approaches and theoretical perspectives on the study of ILS;
  3. Identify links between different ILS domains of life and support awareness on ILS matters in relation to transitions to adulthood, from care research;
  4. Enable members to share and discuss their published and ongoing work with other interested researchers and practitioners;
  5. Foster cross-country collaboration and comparison in relation to ILS research and practice;
  6. Organise specific meetings, literature, seminars and/or events about the topic.

Membership

It is an ambition to have a breadth of international representation within the INTRAC Thematic Group – Independent Living Skills (ILS).

To find more about the group or to join, please contact: