Analysis of Re-Integration Impact for Children Leaving Institutional Care (Care-Leavers) in Kenya

Abstract

Life after alternative care can be quite scary for homeless and vulnerable children and youth. There are challenges associated with the reintegration process. Our study found that several care-leavers felt that their families and societies were not willing to receive and accommodate them. These community/family doubted whether they had been fully transformed for the better as some had left their families in bad light. Beneficiaries hence had to put up great efforts to please the family or the community in order to show case their changes. At times their efforts paid and they were received well and accepted back, at other times these efforts landed on less impressed people who had already made their minds based on the past relationship with the care leaver making the reintegration process difficult. It also emerged that the level of support by most institutions declined after reintegration. The young adults was forced to become independent suddenly and at a tender age. This has adverse effects on the care-leavers forcing them out of school or even to relapse back to the street life.