Pathways of care: Longitudinal study on children and young people in out-of-home care in New South Wales

Out-of-home care (OOHC) is alternative care for children and young people under 18 years of age who are unable to live with their parents. Children and young people enter OOHC for a variety of reasons, including exposure to significant risk of harm from physical, sexual or emotional abuse and neglect, or because their parents' ability to care for them has been severely compromised by factors such as poor mental health, drug and alcohol misuse or domestic violence. The NSW Standards for Statutory OOHC are that children and young people are safe, developing well in a stable and positive environment matched to their needs and, where possible, successfully restored to their family. The standards stipulate that children's and young people's rights are a primary focus for their care; they have a positive sense of identity and connections with family and significant people; they contribute to decisions relating to their lives; and carers are supported to raise children and young people (NSW Office of the Children's Guardian, 2013).