Background
A growing body of international research findings had revealed the poor outcomes for
looked after children, in comparison to children who had not been in care, especially
in relation to their education, health and wellbeing. These findings had also shown
the high risk of social exclusion of young people making the transition from care to
adulthood. They were far more likely than young people who had not been in care to
have poorer educational qualifications, be younger parents, be homeless, and have
higher levels of unemployment, offending behaviour and mental health problems. In
2003 a seminar held in Brussels brought together, for the first time, researchers from
Europe, the Middle East, Canada and the United States, to begin to explore in depth
the issues underpinning these research findings