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The Creation of My Path: a Method to Strengthen Relational Autonomy for Youth with Complex Needs

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Abstract

Developing autonomy is a pre-requisite for meaningful participation in society. However, youth leaving secure residential youth care (SRYC) relate that treatment does not prepare them well enough to stand on their own feet. Too often these youth are not involved in decisions regarding their own life and future. The original aim of the present study was to develop an instrument for youth leaving SRYC that evaluates the development of autonomy and participation and puts their perspective central. We chose for participatory design-based research. Several design and evaluation cycles were followed using a combination of qualitative research methods. First, the design requirements regarding purpose, form, and content of the instrument were developed in an iterative process with youth and staff. An important result was that the purpose had to be changed. Youth needed a tool supporting the development of autonomy and participation. The tool was designed and called My Path, and invites youth to reflect on what they want with their life and future and to work on this future in small steps. An instruction manual for professionals explains how to put the youth in the lead while they seek and follow their path. A pilot study provided evidence for the usability and trustworthiness of this method to strengthen autonomy and meaningful participation for youth in SRYC. My Path appeared more broadly applicable due to its normalizing approach. In-depth training of professionals is needed to work with My Path while making sure the youth is steadily in the lead.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the youth participants and the professionals.

Funding

This study would not have been possible without the financial support of the Province of South Holland.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 25035, 3001, HA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Inge Bramsen, Kees Willemse & Mieke Cardol

  2. Youth Expert Centre, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Chris Kuiper

  3. Horizon Youth Care and Education, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Chris Kuiper

Authors
  1. Inge Bramsen
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  2. Chris Kuiper
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  3. Kees Willemse
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  4. Mieke Cardol
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Contributions

All authors contributed to this study and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Inge Bramsen.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants and the appropriate institution for minors included in the study.

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Bramsen, I., Kuiper, C., Willemse, K. et al. The Creation of My Path: a Method to Strengthen Relational Autonomy for Youth with Complex Needs. JAYS 4, 31–50 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43151-020-00029-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43151-020-00029-x

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