<i>We Guide Them to Independence</i>. Experiences of Professionals Involved in the Transition to Adulthood of Unaccompanied Refugee Adolescents

ABSTRACT The paper explores the experiences of professionals who support unaccompanied refugee adolescents in the Netherlands as they transition to adulthood. This study highlights a crucial yet understudied period for these young people, many of whom arrive at the age of 16 or older and have only a short period of time to become self‐sufficient before reaching legal adulthood at 18. At this point, the guardianship ends, and many legal changes take place, posing challenges across various life domains. Using a qualitative approach, this study involved three online focus group sessions with a total of 23 professionals from different organizations who are involved in the transition to adulthood of unaccompanied refugee adolescents. Thematic analysis of the focus group sessions revealed five key themes in this transition: care, housing, education, income and family reunification. These themes underscore the complexity of this transition and the need for culturally sensitive and individualized support. Professionals identified significant barriers, most of which were related to laws and regulations. Inconsistent policies can create gaps in care, housing, income and education. Trust, cultural sensitivity and collaboration among organizations were identified as key factors to improve support for unaccompanied young people as they transition to adulthood. The study concludes that more consistent policies that take into account the best interests of unaccompanied refugee adolescents are needed to ensure effective support for these young people transitioning to adulthood. While the recent Extended Care policy seems like a step in the right direction, further efforts are needed to address the gaps in care and services and enhance professionals' ability to meet the diverse needs of these young people.