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Contents

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I: CHANGING CHILDHOOD, EMERGING ADULTHOOD
I. 1. "The child is not an adult"
I.2. "Emerging adulthood"

CHAPTER II: VALUES UNDERPINNING CHILD PROTECTION

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH ON CHILDREN GROWING UP IN THE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM
II.1. Hungarian research
II.2. International research

CHAPTER IV: DO-IT-YOURSELF BIOGRAPHIES, SEQUENTIAL (SYSTEM) REQUIREMENTS
IV.1. The successful type
IV.1.1. Down-to-Earth - successful professions, professional success (Sub-type 1)
IV.1.2. Star-gazers - those following childhood dreams (Sub-type 2)
IV.1.3. Make-doers (Sub-type 3)
IV.2. The survivor type
IV.2.1. Those afraid of the future, living in an extended present - focusing on vocational training (Sub-type 1)
IV.2.2. Those being afraid of future, living in extended present - focusing on jobs (Sub-type 2)
IV.2.3. "Waiting for Godot" - passives (Sub-type 3)
IV.2.4. Life-does-it believers (Sub-type 4)

V. THE QUASI-PROFESSIONAL CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM
V.1. Young adult's opinions on the child protection system
V.2. Expert's views on supporting young adults having grown up in the child protection system
V.3. Definition of quasi-professionalism

CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES

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Introduction

The economic and social changes of the past few decades have given rise to a dual process effecting the definition of "life sequences": biological maturation occurs earlier, while social maturation is postponed. Moreover, this dual process has led to an emerging interest in understanding and systematizing the special problems and needs of children and adolescents. The child protection system has responded to the issue of "extending post adolescence" by providing an assistance and care service for young adults up until the age of 18-24 (25 in exceptional cases), which can be turned to on a voluntary basis.

The focus of this research is on the educational career, labour market participation and future perspectives of young adults in aftercare provision and in aftercare services, and on their opinion of the support system itself.

The first chapter has studied the role of children in society in the course of history. Furthermore, the study has attempted to examine how transition between the different life phases of the young generation of Western societies can be interpreted.

The possibility of staying in the child protection system after coming of age has arisen since 1997, suggesting that those being brought up in care need further support during the emerging adulthood period. This is especially important in acquiring the roles of adulthood. However, aftercare provision and aftercare services are currently parts of a system that is based on protecting children's rights. It is important to note that those who reach their majority in care undoubtedly need specific support and professional assistance, but as young adults, and not as children. More specifically, they do not need to be allocated special rights; unlike children, they are able to assert their rights and protect their interests for themselves. In this respect, nurturing and care are not of crucial importance for them anymore. Instead, most importantly, they need help in acquiring skills which are crucial for everyday life and which help them to identify with adult roles.

In the second chapter, the study has outlined the development of European child protection, and then gone on to scrutinize the most significant characteristics of the Hungarian child protection system. The hypothesis claims that the child protection system in Hungary is stuck in the period of ontology, in contrast to international mainstream child protection.

The third chapter of this study has also attempted to obtain an insight into both Hungarian and international research on emerging adulthood, especially into areas of study which are related to the situation of children and young adults in care. In Hungary there is a lack of research dealing with children who were brought up in care, after they come of age. Consequently, we do not know much, for instance, about their educational progress, employment success, or how they start a family. It is also largely unknown how effective the system was in preparing these young adults for the challenges of everyday life, and how successfully they were able to integrate into society. Interestingly, however, many international studies point out that those who were in care tend to suffer from social discrimination and fail to cope with their disadvantageous situation. It seems that care leavers do not get sufficient help from the system; thus, they are unable to develop the skills that are indispensable in everyday life. Care leavers tend to have low self-esteem and selfconfidence, and, due to their poor educational results, their job prospects are not promising either.

The other two chapters of this study (chapter IV and V) are based on research. The research focuses on the biographies of the 40 care leavers examined in the study, who were brought up in care and have already come of age, but are still within the system of aftercare or make use of aftercare service. The author aimed to investigate where they are placed on the continuum of life course, where the two extremes are "normalized" and "selective". Similarly, the author also aimed to demonstrate how the above mentioned young adults look on the child protection system, the content and quality of professional support, and finally, what they regard as failure or success in their lives. While analyzing the life courses of young adults who were brought up in care, the author touched on numerous issues, for instance the decision lying behind aftercare, identity of those in care, personal relations, educational career, labour market participation and future prospects. Finally, the research has focused on Foucault's approach on professional mentality. The author has carried out research with 20 child protection professionals and examined their self-reflection on assistance for young adults. In the author's opinion - due to the fact that the system of childcare is stuck in the ontological stage - child protection in Hungary can be deemed quasi-professional. As the results of the interviews show - in accordance with the opinions of young adults - the child protection system itself does not work appropriately, and the personal success of young adults is entirely due to the knowledge and competence of certain professionals.

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