International Research Network
on Transitions to Adulthood from Care

The International Research Network on Transitions to adulthood from Care (INTRAC) was established as the result of a seminar which took place in Brussels in 2003 to consider transitions to adulthood of young people leaving public care from an international perspective. The group has been developed through subsequent seminars held annually, the publication of a book: Young People's Transitions from Care to Adulthood with chapters written by each member, and subsequent research publication initiatives. The initial idea behind the network was to encourage ongoing collaboration amongst researchers from different countries with the aim of establishing a robust evidence base to inform policy.

The possibility of comparing transitions to adulthood from an international perspective was the initial inspiration of Jackie Davis from NCH. The idea was then developed by Professor Harriet Ward at Loughborough University and Professor Mike Stein at the University of York, who along with Emily Munro at Loughborough co-ordinate the network. Seed funding was provded by the English Department for Education and Skills.

The network currently has 25 members from 16 countries around the world.

Please click here for Members' List.

Aims

Through INTRAC, researchers intend to achieve four key aims within a cross national setting:

• to share research findings on the problems, challenges and outcomes for young people making the journey from care to adulthood;

• to explore the social, political and legal structures that support or inhibit transitions to adulthood;

• to develop joint research initiatives with the purpose of producing findings that can shape policy development in this area;

• to explore how research findings can be used to shape policy development on a national and international basis.