The Pathways and Transitions StudiesRobyn MunfordJackie Sanders With grateful thanks to: The Ministry of Business, Innovation and

Employment who have funded the research and to Linda Liebenberg and Michael Ungar in Canada who conceptualised the original Pathways study and have supported the development of the research.

Achieving good outcomes with vulnerable youth

Do you ever wonder what happened to those children you saw in your practice, those who you worried about and who came to mind when you were not at work, those you felt a sense of disquiet about?

Two Studies

Pathways to Resilience.The role of services and resilience in outcomes for youth at high risk

Youth Transitions.Factors associated with positive transitions to young adulthood for high risk youth

National sampleMixed methodsMulti stage

Who are the young people? 1494 youth 61% male, 39% female 45% Maori, 18% Pacific, 34% Pakeha/other

euro, 4% other 12-17 years. Mean age 15.7 years Service involvement: 339 welfare, 642

youth justice, 642 alternative education, 351 mental health

High service users are very different to comparison group

youth

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Mean Risk and Resilience Scores Comparison and High Service Users Group

Mean Risk score

Mean Resilience Score

Matched Comparison Multiple Service Users Group Group

Service Use – what makes a difference?

Staff engagement Agency (by the young person) Convergence between professionals Avoid episodic interventions for chronic

problems Hard to reach?

EducationDo whatever it takes to keep youth engaged and achieving in school

Accelerated and compressed transitions

Compressed childhoods:• Frequent moves• Social & emotional disruption• Unpredictable and little effective family support• Abuse & neglectAccelerated autonomy: • Adult decisions• Financial responsibility

We gratefully thank all the young people and their supporters who participated in the research. We also acknowledge the contribution of The Donald Beasley Institute, The Victoria University Research Trust and its staff, Youthline Auckland and all the other researchers who helped with the research.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank all the young people who have participated in this study and taken the time to share their experiences with us. They have been generous in their time and in the effort they have put into answering a complex questionnaire. Many of the youth who participated in this research also nominated an adult who knew a lot about them (PMK) who we could interview. We would like to thank all the PMK who generously gave their time to this study. The following individuals and organisations have provided intensive support to us at various points in the study. Professor Michael Ungar and Dr Linda Liebenberg at the Resilience Research Centre based at Dalhousie University in Halifax Canada provided the methodologies and research materials and supported us in applying their ground-breaking Canadian study in New Zealand. They have provided enormous amounts of ongoing support to the project. Kāpiti Youth Support (KYS) and particularly Raechel the Manager and Briar the social worker, Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, and in particular Sue Quinn, the Highbury Whānau Centre and particularly Michelle Swain and Anjali Butler, Pete Butler and his team at START, Youth Transitions in Palmerston North. Special thanks to Barbara, Vicki and the team at Otago Youth Wellness Trust who provided assistance and support to the Dunedin research team for the duration of the study. The Ministry of Social Development, and particularly Child Youth and Family Services, The Families Commission, as well as the Department of Corrections also provided ongoing support at various stages in the research which would like to acknowledge. We also acknowledge the contribution of the Victoria University Research Trust and its staff; The Donald Beasley Institute; Youthline Auckland and Otago University. Finally, we would like to thank and acknowledge the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment for funding this research   In addition to this many organisations across the country supported the research at various stages in its development and we would like to thank them for everything they have done to contribute to the research:Adventure Development Ltd

Mt Cargill TrustLondon House Learning CentreTe Hou Ora Whanau ServicesMirror Services Whakāta Tohu Tohu Kokiri Training CentreCorstorphine Baptist Community TrustPresbyterian Support Otago Family Works YouthGrow and Buddy ProgrammePresybterian Support Upper South Island, ChristchurchCafe for Youth Health Taupo AIMHI Alternative Education ConsortiumAuckland Central Alternative Education ConsortiumBest TrainingBluelight Dingwall Trust Genesis ProjectMartin Hautus InstituteAotea CollegeQEC College PNSt Patricks Town School

2 Much YDPSouth Pacific AcademyYMCAChallenge 2000City MissionEVOLVEMission for YouthBGIPorirua Alt SchoolVIBEWellington Activity CentrePorirua Activity CentreStrengthening FamiliesBGIYMCA Palmerston North YOSS Palmerston North198 Youth HealthThe CollaborativeGlenfield AOG youthStrive Trust Awatapu CollegeSt Peters College PNWellington Girls CollegeKings College