Unaccompanied migrant children: Local strategies supporting their transition to adulthood

1. Unaccompanied migrant children: Local strategies supporting their transition to adulthood Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive, European Social Network 09WS421 - September 9th, 9:15 a.m. Building SQUARE - Brussels Convention Centre, Room Copper hall Mont des Arts, 1000 Brussels

2. ESN work on unaccompanied children • 2005 - ESN published “Promoting inclusion for unaccompanied young asylum seekers and immigrants - a duty of justice and care”? • 2016 – ESN published “The impact of the refugee crisis on local public social services in Europe” • 2017 – ESN Migration Seminar, Stockholm • 2018 – ESN published “Promoting the social inclusion of migrant children and young people: The duty of social services.”

3. social inclusion of unaccompanied migrant children • Reception conditions • From reception to care • Transition to adulthood

4. Reception conditions • Reception conditions in hotspots • Child detention • Age assessment procedures • Children victims of human trafficking

5. Pathways to social inclusion • Guardianship/Named person • Accessing care and accommodation • Access to heath care • Access to education

6. Transition to adulthood • Losing the right to stay in the host country • Transferred to adult services/other parts of the country • Lack of financial support/housing • Providing an aftercare plan is key

7. Key messages • Children’s needs should be addressed first and foremost as children’s needs • Guardianship/Named person as coordinator of children’s access to services

8. Key messages • Effective service coordination between departments providing care is crucial to ensure effective social integration in the host country • Support in the transition to adulthood through an integrated plan is a key social investment for European societies

9. get in touch! @ALaraMontero, @ESNSocial