SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW SCHEDULE FOR YOUTH LEAVING CARE
PROJECT TITLE: THE CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCES OF YOUTH LEAVING
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN SOUTH AFRICA
Goal of the study:
To explore the challenges and experiences of youth leaving foster care system in South
Africa.
Biographical Information
1. Gender: Male______ Female______ Other______
2. Age of the participant: Age______ Age at which you were placed in foster care_____
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3. What is the type of the organisation you were placed at during foster care?
(a) Department of Social Development______
(b) Private Child and Youth Care Centre______
4. How long have you been placed in foster care?
0-5 years
6-10 years
11-15 years
16-20 years
21+ years
Question 1
Tell me about your early life experiences, which led you to be placed in foster care?
[Probes: Are your biological parents still alive?; How many siblings do you have,
including their ages?; Are you married?; Do you have children? If so, how many children
do you have and how old are they?; Where do you currently stay?; Do you have any
surviving relatives? If so, what role do they play in your life?]
Question 2
Tell me about your experiences of foster care? [Probes: What is it that you liked the most
about foster care?; What is it that you did not like about foster care]
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Question 3
What are the challenges of being in the foster care system? [Probe: How did you overcome
those challenges?; What type of school or educational system did you attend during foster
care?; How were you treated by the society?]
Question 4
What were the services rendered to youth leaving care in order to be prepared while in the
process of leaving care and becoming independent young adults? [Probe: What is your
view about those services?]
Question 5
Do you think you successfully transitioned out of foster care? [Probe: If yes, why do you
think you successfully transitioned out of foster care?; If no, what do you think hindered
you for successful transitioning out of foster care?]
Question 6
What are the factors that enabled you to rise above hardships during your foster care
placement? [Probe: How did you bounce back and recover from a most difficult situation]
Question 7
What are your life experiences post foster care? [Probes: Positive experiences and
negative experiences]
Question 8
Do you think you were well prepared for life after foster care? [Probes: If yes, were those
after care programmes effective? Why are you saying they were effective? If no, why do
you think you were not well prepared for life after foster care?]
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What are the preparatory after care programmes that you would have liked in order to
ensure that you are adequately prepared to leave care? [Probe: please give examples]
Question 9
Do you think that you received necessary social support (e.g. emotional support, esteem
support, informational support, instrumental support, and network support) from social
workers, family, friends, welfare organization and the community? [Probes: If yes, why
do you think you received necessary social support?; If no, why do you think you did not
receive necessary social support?]
What are the social support services or programmes that you can recommend to assist
social workers in rendering after care services or programmes?
We have come to the end of our interview. However, before we close, I would like to find out if
there is anything or issues you would like to share with me that was not asked in the above
questions.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Is it fine to contact you again for further information and/or clarification if the need arises?
Yes______________ No__________________
Thank you very much for taking part in this research study.
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